Gen. Dambazau to Chart New Path for Nigeria’s Security, Unity at JFCN Annual Lecture ~ Truth Reporters

By Nelson Egware 

Former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), is set to deliver the keynote address at the 7th Annual Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN), scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Bolingo Hotel, Abuja.

 

The lecture, themed “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion: A New Paradigm for Internal Security Architecture and Governance,” will provide a timely platform for critical dialogue on how to reform and strengthen Nigeria’s internal security systems amid growing public concern over terrorism, communal conflicts, and organized crime.

 

According to a statement signed by Mrs. Maria Cardillo, Chair of the Organising Committee, the high-profile event will commence at 10 a.m. and feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, policymakers, and security experts.

 

Chairman of the occasion is Prof. Tonnie Iredia, former Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and National Orientation Agency (NOA), and founder of the Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City.

 

President of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria, Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, said the lecture will serve as a platform for deep reflection on the state of Nigeria’s internal security and the urgent need for a new governance approach that promotes cohesion and inclusivity.

 

“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 come at a time when the nation is yearning for fresh, pragmatic ideas to address complex internal security threats,” Ohwahwa said. 

“We believe his lecture will challenge orthodoxies and offer a bold, coherent vision for Nigeria’s security and unity.”

 

Dambazau, who served as Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010 and later as Minister of Interior from 2015 to 2019, is recognized as one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in security governance and public policy. 

"A scholar-soldier, he holds a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Keele, United Kingdom, and has authored several works on counterterrorism, civil-military relations, and national security reform.

 

A panel discussion will follow the keynote lecture, featuring Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adekunle (Rtd.), former Chief of Training and Operations and ex-Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Air Force; and Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, Professor of Strategic Management at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 

The panel will examine institutional weaknesses in Nigeria’s security structure and propose practical reforms for lasting stability.

 

The Just Friends Club of Nigeria, a non-partisan network of professionals and technocrats, is known for promoting civic engagement, public policy reform, and national dialogue. 

Since its inception, the Club’s Annual Lecture Series has become one of the country’s most respected platforms for discussing key socio-political and economic challenges.

 

This year’s edition is expected to draw a distinguished audience comprising top government officials, lawmakers, retired military officers, traditional rulers, youth leaders, academics, civil society advocates, and members of the diplomatic community, all united in the search for sustainable peace and national cohesion.