Dare Babalola
Defence chief Olufemi Oluyede has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to peacekeeping operations, urging a strategy that delivers concrete national benefits beyond the deployment of troops.
Oluyede made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the 2026 Defence Headquarters Peacekeeping Operations Seminar in Abuja. The event was attended by military officials and stakeholders involved in peace support operations.
Represented by the Chief of Training at Defence Headquarters, Olutosin Ogunleye, the defence chief noted that while Nigeria remains one of the leading troop-contributing nations to missions under the United Nations and the African Union, the returns from such contributions have not matched the scale of its commitment.
“While these contributions have enhanced our international profile, the strategic returns, particularly in diplomatic influence, institutional positioning and national interest outcomes, have not been commensurate,” Oluyede said.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond routine participation and instead leverage peacekeeping as a tool of national power and diplomacy.
According to him, the changing global security environment—marked by complex mandates, asymmetric threats and growing geopolitical competition—requires a more coordinated and interest-driven approach.
“Nigeria must position itself not only as a contributor of troops but also as a strategic actor capable of shaping outcomes within multilateral security frameworks,” he added.
Oluyede further explained that his leadership philosophy for the Armed Forces is anchored on improved joint operations, enhanced readiness, personnel welfare and effective administration, all aimed at protecting national sovereignty and fostering prosperity.
He expressed confidence that the seminar would produce practical policy recommendations to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and develop a more coherent peacekeeping strategy aligned with national interests.
Also speaking, Director of Peace Support Operations at Defence Headquarters, Uriah Opuene, described the seminar as a landmark initiative designed to reposition Nigeria’s role in global peace missions.
Opuene said the forum—its first at Defence Headquarters—was created as a strategic platform to critically evaluate Nigeria’s participation in peace support operations.
He acknowledged that despite Nigeria’s prominent role in both regional and global peacekeeping, the diplomatic and institutional gains have not always reflected the country’s level of involvement.
He added that the seminar would feature research presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions aimed at producing practical and actionable recommendations.
