Ex-army chief Dambazau to speak on Nigeria’s security at JFCN lecture

 Abdulrahman Dambazau, former chief of army staff, is billed to speak at the seventh edition of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN) annual lecture.

The event, scheduled for November 4 in Abuja, is themed, ‘Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion: A New Paradigm for Internal Security Architecture and Governance’.

Dambazau was chief of army staff from 2008 to 2010 and later as minister of interior from 2015 to 2019.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Maria Cardillo, chairperson of the organising committee of JFCN, said the occasion will be chaired by Tonnie Iredia, former director-general of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

Fred Ohwahwa, president of JFCN, said the event will provide a platform for deep reflection and policy-driven conversation on how Nigeria can rethink and rebuild its internal security systems in light of emerging national threats. 

Ohwahwa noted that the keynote lecture will examine Nigeria’s current security architecture, address its institutional weaknesses, and propose practical reforms that balance law enforcement, intelligence gathering, and community-based approaches.

He said the event will also touch on the importance of national cohesion and inclusive governance as tools for long-term peace and stability.

“We are delighted and honoured to host Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Rtd) at this critical time in our national journey. His wealth of experience and thought leadership in security matters comes at a time when the nation is yearning for fresh, pragmatic ideas to address complex internal security threats. We believe his lecture will challenge orthodoxies and offer a bold, coherent vision for Nigeria’s security and unity,” Ohwahwa said.

Cardillo said the lecture will be followed by a panel discussion featuring policy experts, former security chiefs, scholars, and civic leaders, who will provide critical reflections and practical responses to the issues raised in the keynote.

The panellists include Gbolahan Adekunle, former chief of training and operations at the Nigerian Air Force, and Okey Ikechwkwu, professor of strategic management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

JFCN is a non-partisan network of Nigerian professionals, technocrats, and public-spirited individuals committed to civic engagement, public policy reform, and good governance.