Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has called for a strategic reorientation of Nigeria's peacekeeping engagements to ensure they yield measurable national benefits. Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Defence Headquarters Peacekeeping Operations Seminar in Abuja on Tuesday, Oluyede was represented by Rear Adm. Abolade Ogunleye, Chief of Training at Defence Headquarters. Oluyede noted that while Nigeria remains a top troop-contributing country to United Nations and African Union missions, the strategic returns in diplomacy, institutional positioning, and national interest outcomes have not matched the scale of its contributions. He described the seminar, themed "From Troop Contribution to Strategic Influence: Optimising Peace Support Operations for National Interests," as timely.
Oluyede stressed the need to shift from routine participation to using peacekeeping as a tool of national power and diplomacy. He cited the evolving global security landscape, marked by complex mandates, asymmetric threats, and growing geopolitical competition, as reasons for a more coordinated, interest-driven approach. Nigeria, he said, must become a strategic actor capable of shaping outcomes in multilateral security frameworks. His leadership philosophy for the Armed Forces focuses on joint operations, operational readiness, personnel welfare, and sound administration to protect national sovereignty and support prosperity.
Maj.-Gen. Uriah Opuene, Director of Peace Support Operations at Defence Headquarters, called the seminar a landmark initiative and the first of its kind at the headquarters. He said it aims to assess Nigeria's peacekeeping role critically and explore how the country can gain more from its involvement. The event includes research presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions to produce actionable recommendations. Opuene expressed confidence that outcomes would enhance Nigeria's global strategic influence and solidify its position as a leading peacekeeping nation in Africa.
Gen. Olufemi Oluyede highlights Nigeria's extensive troop contributions to UN and AU missions yet admits strategic gains in diplomacy and influence have not matched the effort. If decades of deployment have not translated into stronger diplomatic leverage or institutional roles, the value of continued high troop output without renegotiated returns is questionable. Nigerians deserve clarity on how these missions serve national interests beyond reputational goodwill. The seminar's focus on actionable outcomes must move beyond rhetoric to deliver measurable shifts in Nigeria's global positioning.
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