By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has tasked Regimental Sergeant Majors of the Nigerian Army to reinforce the warrior ethos among troops as part of efforts to sustain combat power, improve operational effectiveness and ensure mission success across all formations and units of the Service.
Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the charge on Thursday during the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 held at the JN Garba Hall, Postgraduate School, Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
In an official signed statement, the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, disclosed that the convention, themed “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” served as a platform for professional engagement, exchange of operational experiences and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards within the Nigerian Army.
Addressing the participants, the Chief of Army Staff described Regimental Sergeant Majors as custodians of discipline, regimentation and military traditions, noting that their leadership roles remain critical to sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion and esprit de corps, particularly among personnel deployed in various operational theatres.
Lieutenant General Shaibu stressed that the cultivation of a strong warrior ethos is essential for building resilient, disciplined and mission-oriented forces capable of confronting evolving and asymmetric security threats confronting the nation.
The Army Chief also warned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms, cautioning that unregulated online activities could compromise operational security, undermine institutional integrity and negatively affect ongoing military operations.
He urged the senior non-commissioned officers to lead by example in enforcing responsible digital conduct, strengthening information discipline and ensuring strict adherence to communication protocols within their units and formations.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further directed the Regimental Sergeant Majors to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers in order to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism and promote ethical conduct throughout the Nigerian Army.
According to him, effective mentorship remains critical to developing a highly motivated, combat-ready and professionally grounded force capable of meeting contemporary operational demands.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi, stated that the convention reflected the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing administrative efficiency, professional excellence and sustained operational readiness in line with the command philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff.
Major General Abdullahi charged participants to effectively apply the knowledge, experiences and strategic insights gained during the convention toward improving troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational efficiency in their respective formations and units.
