PROFILE OF THE 23RD CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF
Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja was born on 28 February 1968 in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State. He was granted Regular Combatant Commission as a member of 39 Regular Course on 19 September 1992 in the rank of second lieutenant with seniority on the rank effective 12 September 1987. He is of the Infantry Corps and has attended several courses and performed creditably. These courses include the Company Amphibious Operations Course, Young Officers' Course (Infantry), Airborne Basic Course, Airborne Advanced Course, Junior Staff Course and Company Commanders' Course (Infantry). He also attended the Senior Staff Course, Military Observers' Course, Amphibious Staff Operations Course, Commanding Officers' Course and the Military Education Level 1 Programme in Strategic Landpower at the United States Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography from the Nigerian Defence Academy and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States of America.Lieutenant General Lagbaja proved himself as a professional soldier and earned his promotions when due, most recent of which was his promotion to the enviable rank of Lieutenant General on 31 July 2023. In the course of Lieutenant General Lagbaja's illustrious career spanning over three decades, he has held diverse appointments cutting across command, staff, instructional and operational deployments. These include an international engagement as a Military Observer at the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, two-time Commanding Officer 72 Special Forces Battalion, Makurdi and Chief of Staff at Headquarters 8 Task Force Division, Monguno.
Lieutenant General Lagbaja's intellectual prowess, vast operational expertise and experience equally made him the preferred choice for the appointment of Acting Director of Operations Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations, Commander 2 Brigade Uyo, Commander 9 Brigade Ikeja and pioneer Director Force Generation Army Headquarters Department of Training and Operations. He was also General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu and General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Kaduna. He later served as the Chief of Operations (Army) at the Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations before his appointment as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff on 19 June 2023.
In recognition of Lieutenant General Lagbaja's meritorious service to the Nation and his unrelenting exploits in various theatres of operations within and outside the country, he was conferred with several military honours and medals. These include the Forces Services Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star and the Grand Service Star. His sound intellectual dexterity and exemplary instructional competence earned him the Passed Staff Course (Dagger) award and Fellow United States Army War College. His tactical skills and command capabilities also earned him the Command Medal, Field Command Medal, Field Command Medal of Honour, the General Operations Medal, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Medal and the Nigerian Army Medal, which is the highest customary award in the Nigerian Army.
Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja is happily married to Mrs Maria Lagbaja and the union is blessed with children. At his leisure, he enjoys watching documentaries and reading biographies.
