major general w shuaibu biography

Major General Waidi Shuaibu

Early Life & Education

Waidi Shuaibu was born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria.
He gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 17 September 1994 into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps.
His academic credentials include:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA (1993)
• A Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration
• A Master’s in Public Administration (University of Calabar)
• A Master’s in Strategic Studies (University of Ibadan)
• A Master’s in Security & Strategic Studies (National Defence University, Washington, D.C., USA)
• He is also noted as a participant in the Harvard Kennedy School’s “Leadership for the 21st Century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage” programme.

Military Career

Shuaibu’s career in the Nigerian Army has seen him hold numerous operational and command appointments:

• He served in the Armour Corps and was Commander of the 21 Special Armour Brigade in Bama.
• He became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, where he led operations against insurgents including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Jama’at Ahl al‑Sunnah lidda’awati wal Jihad (JAS).
• In January 2024, he was appointed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (JTF North-East) where he supervised counter-insurgency efforts, including deep-clearance operations and community stabilization activities.
• On 24 October 2025, he was appointed the Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army by President Bola Tinubu.

Leadership Style & Achievements

Shuaibu is recognised for his hands-on leadership, focus on enhancing operational readiness, and emphasis on troop welfare and civil-military collaboration. During his command:

• Significant terrorist leader neutralizations and hardware upgrades were reported.
• Initiatives to rehabilitate surrendered fighters and engage local communities were implemented in the Northeast theatre.

Personal Life

Although much of his personal life remains low-profile, Shuaibu’s reputation in military and security circles is that of a dedicated and experienced armoured corps officer with deep expertise in asymmetric warfare and insurgency operations.

Legacy & Outlook

Major General Waidi Shuaibu stands at a pivotal point in his career now heading the Nigerian Army as Chief of Army Staff. His prior experience in major operations, combined with strong academic credentials and a broad exposure to training, positions him to lead the Army through Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. His legacy will likely be defined by how effectively he transitions from operational theatre command to strategic national Army leadership and reforms.