The Chairman, Board of Governors of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Senator Ken Nnamani (GCON), has congratulated Lieutenant General Olufemi Olusola Oluyede, mni, on his appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, describing the development as “timely and providential.”
In a congratulatory statement, Nnamani said General Oluyede’s elevation reflected “a match between calling and competence, between trust and talent.”
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for what he called “rare discernment and statesmanship” in appointing a leader of Oluyede’s calibre to head the Armed Forces at a time when “the winds of insecurity test our collective resilience.”
According to Nnamani, the new Defence Chief’s military career “reads like a chronicle of dedication, discipline, and duty,” noting his service across various fronts including ECOMOG operations in Liberia, the Bakassi Peninsula mission, and the North-East theatre under Operation Hadin Kai.
“You have exemplified the ethos of a true soldier—courage in adversity, composure in command, and conscience in service,” he said, describing Oluyede as a “commander and thinker” who combines “intellectual perspicacity with operational brilliance.”
Nnamani further highlighted Oluyede’s record as a proud alumnus of NIPSS, observing that he personifies the institute’s creed of “service through knowledge, and leadership through vision.”
“Your appointment rekindles confidence in merit, professionalism, and character as the enduring pillars of national leadership,” he stated, adding that the new Chief of Defence Staff represents a model of excellence and integrity in public service.
The former Senate President expressed optimism that Oluyede’s tenure would be marked by “renewed synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force—a unity born of shared purpose and strategic clarity.”
Concluding, Nnamani said: “On behalf of the Board of Governors and the entire NIPSS community, I salute you as a symbol of excellence, courage, and service to the nation. May your stewardship usher in a new dawn of discipline, integrity, and patriotic commitment in Nigeria’s defence architecture.”