Buratai to Deliver Keynote at DECAN 2026 Lecture, Nominated for Leadership Award

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja 

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has accepted an invitation to deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Annual Lecture and Awards Ceremony of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), scheduled to hold in Abuja.

Buratai disclosed this on Friday when he received a delegation from the DECAN Annual Lecture and Awards Committee, led by the association’s President, Comrade Odita Sunday, during a courtesy visit to his residence.

The former Army chief was also nominated for the association’s Distinguished Leadership Award.

The 2026 lecture is themed, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security.”

Buratai described the theme as timely and relevant to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

“This topic is quite contemporary, beyond kinetic warfare. Harnessing technology and intelligence-led operations for Nigeria’s national security. It's quite contemporary,” he said.

The former Army chief stressed the importance of professional associations in protecting the welfare, job security and professional interests of their members.

He also highlighted the role of defence journalism in national security, saying effective communication could influence the outcome of military operations.

According to him, failure by the military to communicate its activities and provide timely information could create an information gap that adversaries might exploit.

“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 said.

He recalled that during his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, the Nigerian Army opened its operational theatres to defence correspondents, allowing journalists to accompany troops during military operations.

Buratai said the initiative helped improve relations between the military and the media while providing journalists with first-hand information about military operations.

“We broke the jinx that you don't report on the military while in action in Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that the policy was also aimed at countering the propaganda activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who, according to him, used the media to spread their ideology, create fear among citizens and undermine troop morale.

Recounting one of the operations during which journalists accompanied troops, Buratai said a military convoy came under attack 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 in the ambush. He added that troops subsequently captured some insurgents alive and continued their advance.

According to him, journalists reported the incident from the scene, helping to challenge what he described as Boko Haram’s previous dominance of the information space.

“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,” he said.

Buratai expressed appreciation to DECAN for nominating him for the Distinguished Leadership Award, describing the recognition as one he deeply cherished.

“It's a recognition that I so much cherish,” he said.

He also pledged to sustain his relationship with defence correspondents and confirmed his readiness to attend the DECAN event and deliver the keynote address.

Earlier, DECAN President Odita Sunday said the delegation visited Buratai to formally notify him of his nomination and invite him 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 would add value to discussions on emerging threats and the application of technology and intelligence in modern security operations.

He said the annual lecture would provide a platform for policymakers, security professionals, journalists, academics and other stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s changing security environment.

The DECAN president added that the awards ceremony would recognise individuals and institutions whose contributions have advanced national security, defence and responsible journalism in Nigeria.