Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has accepted an invitation to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Abuja.
Buratai disclosed this on Friday when he received a delegation of the DECAN Annual Lecture and Awards Committee, led by the association’s President, Comrade Odita Sunday, during a courtesy visit.
The former Army chief, who was also nominated for the Distinguished Leadership Award by DECAN, said the lecture theme, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” was timely.
He said, “This topic is quite contemporary, beyond kinetic warfare. Harnessing technology and intelligence-led operations for Nigeria’s national security. It’s quite contemporary.”
Buratai said professional associations remained necessary for protecting members’ welfare, job security and professional interests, while also checking arbitrary treatment of journalists by media executives.
He said defence journalism was particularly vital because the sector was central to national security, development, cohesion and unity, adding that effective communication could influence the outcome of military operations.
According to him, failure by the military to project its activities and provide timely information could create an information gap that adversaries would exploit.
He said, “If you don’t project yourself, if you don’t get your information out as timely as possible, then be reassured that even your battle will be lost. Your strategy will be ineffective, which by implication, your operational execution will also be affected.”
Buratai recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army opened its doors to defence correspondents and allowed them to accompany troops to operational theatres.
He said the decision helped change the relationship between the military and the media, while giving journalists first-hand access to military operations.
He said, “We broke the jinx that you don’t report on the military while in action in Nigeria.”
According to him, the policy was also adopted to counter the propaganda activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who he said used the media to spread their ideology, create fear among citizens and demoralise troops.
Recalling one of the operations journalists accompanied him on, Buratai said the military convoy came under an ambush while advancing towards Gamboru Ngala after troops had cleared Mafa and Dikwa.
He said one soldier was killed while a general and another soldier were injured during the attack, adding that troops subsequently captured insurgents alive and continued their advance.
Buratai said the events were reported from the scene, helping to counter what he described as Boko Haram’s previous monopoly over information and propaganda.
He said, “Those issues were reported live, and we now broke the Boko Haram information and media propaganda back, so they could no longer have the monopoly to tell the world, to spread rumours.”
Buratai also thanked DECAN for nominating him for the Distinguished Leadership Award, describing the recognition as one he cherished.
He said, “It’s a recognition that I so much cherish.”
The former Army chief further pledged to maintain his relationship with defence correspondents and expressed readiness to attend the DECAN event and deliver the keynote address.
Earlier, the DECAN President, Odita Sunday, said the delegation was at Buratai’s residence to formally notify him of his nomination and invitation to serve as Guest Lecturer at the 2026 annual lecture and awards ceremony.
Odita said Buratai’s experience in military leadership, national defence and security matters would contribute to discussions on emerging threats and the use of technology and intelligence in modern security operations.
He said the lecture would provide an avenue for policymakers, security professionals, journalists, academics and other stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
Odita added that the annual lecture and awards ceremony would also recognise individuals and institutions whose contributions had advanced national security, defence and responsible journalism in Nigeria.