President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, announced the appointment of Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
According to the President in a statement released by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Oluyede will be in an acting capacity until the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
Following the appointment, below are some things to know about the acting COAS.
1. Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede is 56 years old.
2. He is a member of the 39th Regular Course.
3. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
4. Prior to his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.
5. Oluyede and Lagbaja were coursemates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
6. General Oluyede has held many commands since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
7. He has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.
8. He has multiple honours to his credit, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal.
Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
9. The acting COAS is married and has three children.
