Lt. General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Nigeria, is a highly experienced military officer with nearly four decades of service. Born in 1968 in Ikere, Ekiti State, Oluyede began his military career in 1987 as a cadet at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), from which he graduated as a second lieutenant in 1992, retroactively counted from his cadet year.
Oluyede is a member of the 39th Regular Course at the NDA and has risen through various command and staff roles. His experience includes being Platoon Commander at the 65 Battalion, Company Commander at the 177 Guards Battalion, and Staff Officer at the Guards Brigade. He also served as Commandant of the Amphibious Training School and notably commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade, leading counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and other insurgents in Nigeria's North East under Operation HADIN KAI.
Beyond Nigeria, Oluyede has gained substantial international experience participating in peacekeeping missions, including the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) missions in Liberia and Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi. His leadership acumen and operational expertise led to his appointment as Chief of Army Staff in late 2024 after the death of his predecessor, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
General Oluyede has been recognized for his service with several military honors, such as the Corps Medal of Honour, Grand Service Star, and Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award, marking him as one of Nigeria's most decorated and trusted military leaders.
The appointment of Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff by President Bola Tinubu, replacing General Christopher Musa in October 2025, is seen as a strategic move to consolidate military leadership amid ongoing security challenges across Nigeria. His deep operational experience and history of command in both combat and peacekeeping roles position him as a pivotal figure in advancing Nigeria’s national security agenda.
As CDS, Oluyede is expected to lead the Nigerian Armed Forces with a focus on professionalism, unity, and heightened vigilance to counter the array of security threats facing the country while enhancing the military’s operational effectiveness and regional peacekeeping contributions.