Former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), will deliver the keynote address at the 7th Annual Lecture of the Just Friends Club of Nigeria (JFCN), scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Bolingo Hotel, Abuja.
Themed “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion: A New Paradigm for Internal Security Architecture and Governance,” the lecture will commence at 10 a.m. and comes amid renewed public concern over the country’s internal security crises and the search for lasting solutions to terrorism, communal conflicts, and organized crime.
Chairman of the event is Prof. Tonnie Iredia, former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and founder of the Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City.
Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, President of JFCN, noted that the high-level forum will provide a platform for policy-driven dialogue on rethinking and rebuilding Nigeria’s internal security framework in light of emerging threats.
“We are delighted and honoured to host Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) at this critical time in our national journey.
“His wealth of experience and thought leadership in security matters come at a time when the nation is yearning for fresh, pragmatic ideas to address complex internal security threats,” Ohwahwa said.
According to Mrs. Maria Cardillo, Chair, Organising Committee in a statement on Sunday, Dambazau, who served as Chief of Army Staff from 2008 to 2010 and as Minister of Interior from 2015 to 2019, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost security experts.
Read also:
- Maris Lecture 2025: Oborevwori declares N2 B road projects per LGA strategic move for sustainable development
- Jonathan, others to speak at NCDMB Nigerian content lecture series
- Protect trails El- Rufai’s visit to lmo during Odenigbo lectures
A Ph.D. holder in Criminology from the University of Keele, United Kingdom, he has authored several academic and policy papers on security sector reform, counterterrorism, and civil-military relations.
The keynote lecture is expected to examine Nigeria’s current security architecture, identify institutional weaknesses, and propose practical reforms that integrate law enforcement, intelligence, and community-based approaches.
It will also highlight the role of national cohesion and inclusive governance in fostering peace and stability.
A panel discussion will follow the lecture, featuring security and policy experts including Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adekunle (rtd), former Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air Force, and Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, professor of Strategic Management at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The Just Friends Club of Nigeria is a non-partisan network of professionals and technocrats committed to civic engagement, policy reform, and good governance.
Its annual lecture series has over the years, served as a leading forum for national discourse on key socio-political and economic issues, attracting policymakers, academics, civil society leaders, and members of the diplomatic community.
The 7th edition is expected to draw a diverse audience of top government officials, lawmakers, traditional rulers, youth leaders, and security experts.
