Profile of Major General Waidi Shaibu, Nigeria’s New Chief of Army Staff

Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, (N/9895) DSS DSO(LR) FTAM psc fdc (+) CM FCM FCMH MSS MA MNIM ,Theatre Commander JTF (NE) OP Hadin Kai

1. Background: Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu was born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. He gained admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989. He was commissioned on 17 September 1994 as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.

2. Education: The senior officer holds the underlisted academic qualifications to his credit:

a. Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna – 1993.
b. Holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
c. Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar.
d. Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
e. Master’s Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University, Washington, D.C., United States of America.
f. Alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Programme in Leadership for the 21st century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage.
g. Advanced Executive Certificate in Applied Leadership and Strategy from the National Productivity Senior Executive Programme.
h. PhD in Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan (In view).

3. Military courses: The General has also attended several military courses both home and abroad.

a. Young Officer Course Armour -Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi (1995).
b. Young Officers Course Infantry- Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji (1996).
c. Company Amphibious Operation Course-Amphibious Training School Calabar (1997).
d. Platoon Commanders Course Armour- Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi (1998).
e. Communication Instructors Course Armour- Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi (1998).
f. Junior Staff Course- Ghana (2001).
g. Company Commander’s Course Armour- Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi (2003).
h. Senior Staff Course- Jaji (2005/2006).
i. Exclusive Economic Zone Course 2007.
j. Battalion Commanders Course Armour- Nigerian Army Armour School Bauchi (2011).
k. Defense Resources Management Course- Kenya (2015).
l. Higher Defence Management Course- National Defense College, Abuja (2015/2016).
m. Counter Terrorism Fellows Programme at the College of International Security Affairs- Washington DC USA (2017).

3. Operational experience: Shaibu, an erudite Guest Lecturer, has participated in several operations both home and abroad.

a. Operation HARMONY.
b. Operation BOYONA.
c. Operation ZAMAN LAFIYA.
d. Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
e. Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO.
f. Operation HADIN KAI.
g. Operation DESERT and LAKE SANITY.
h. African Mission in Sudan.
i. United Nation Mission in Liberia.
j. He was also part of Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia.

4. Appointments: In the course of his illustrious career, our esteemed resource person has held several command, instructional and staff appointments.

a. Platoon Commander 245 Recce Battalion.
b. ADC to General Officer Commanding 3 Divisions.
c. GSO II Ops at Army Headquarters.
d. Principal Staff Officer/Military Assistant to Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia.
e. Company Commander 242 Recce Battalion.
f. Military Observer/Logistics Officer African Mission in Sudan.
g. Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade Headquarters, Yola.
h. Training Officer Armed Forces Simulation CentreJaji.
i. Commanding Officer 243 Battalion Monguno.
j. Chief Instructor, Nigeria Army Armour School.
k. Principal Staff Officer (Army) Defence Headquarters.
l. Assistant Director Peace Keeping Operations Defence Headquarters.
m. Director Coordination and Directing Staff National Defence Collage, Abuja.
n. Commander 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama.
o. Ag. Chief of Training for Exercises and Training AHQ Abuja
p. General Officer Commanding 7 Divisions and Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI.
q. Director of Defence Admin DSA.
r. Theatre Commander OPHK
s. CURRENT APPOINTMENT- Director of Armour Research Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre WEF 22 Apr 25 till date.

5. Honours/awards: He has numerous honours and awards to his credit.

a. Distinguished Service Star (DSS),
b. Distinguished Service Order (DSO LR),
c. Foreign Training Assistance Medal (FTAM),
d. Pass Staff College (psc),
e. Fellow National Defence College Dagger (+).
f. Command Medal (CM).
g. Purple Heart Medal for Counter Insurgency Operation in North East.

h. Field Command Medal (FCM).
i. Field Command Medal of Honour (FCMH).
j. General Operation Medal (GOM)
k. Defence Operations Medal (DOM).
The Theatre Commander is a proud member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM).

6. Hobbies: His hobbies include reading, early morning walk and deep contemplations.

The General is happily married and the union is blessed with children