The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has been conferred with the Distinguished Alumnus Star Award by the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, in recognition of his contributions to strategic military leadership, professional military education and national security. The honour was bestowed on Friday, 28 August 2026, during the graduation ceremony of NDC Course 34 in Abuja.
The ceremony was graced by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by the Vice President, Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima. The occasion reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to developing strategic leaders and strengthening professionalism within Nigeria’s defence and security architecture.
Lieutenant General Shaibu previously served at the NDC as a Directing Staff and later Director Coordination, where he contributed to the development of strategic thinking and leadership among senior military officers and other national security practitioners. The Distinguished Alumnus Star Award therefore recognises his enduring contributions to strategic military education and leadership, as well as his continued drive to advance a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient Nigerian Army.
