Buratai to Deliver Keynote at DECAN Lecture, Receives Leadership Award Nomination

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) in Abuja.

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

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

In a statement signed by DECAN’s Public Relations Officer, Matthew Abi, Buratai described the theme of the lecture, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” as timely and relevant to contemporary 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.

Buratai stressed the importance of professional associations in protecting the welfare, job security and professional interests of their members, while also serving as a check against arbitrary treatment of journalists by media executives.

He said defence journalism was particularly important because the military and security sector remained central to national security, national development, cohesion and unity.

According to him, effective communication could influence the outcome of military operations, warning that failure by the military to provide timely and accurate 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 doors to defence correspondents and allowed journalists to accompany troops to operational theatres.

He said the initiative helped to transform the relationship between the military and the media by giving journalists first hand access to military operations.

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

Buratai explained that the policy was also introduced to counter the propaganda activities of Boko Haram insurgents, who, according to him, exploited the media to spread their ideology, create fear among Nigerians and undermine troop morale.

Recounting one of the operations in which journalists accompanied him, the former Army chief said a 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 sustained injuries in the attack, adding that troops later captured some insurgents alive and continued their advance.

Buratai said journalists reported the incident from the scene, helping to counter Boko Haram's information and propaganda activities.

“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.

The former Army chief thanked DECAN for nominating him for the Distinguished Leadership Award, describing the recognition as one he cherished.

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

He also pledged to sustain his relationship with defence correspondents and expressed his readiness to attend the 2026 DECAN annual lecture and awards ceremony to deliver the keynote address.

Earlier, DECAN President Odita Sunday said the delegation visited Buratai to formally notify him of his nomination for the Distinguished Leadership Award 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 contribute significantly 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 evolving security environment.

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