Protocol.

1.             Many may be wondering why the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is conferring the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, with the prestigious fellowship of the institute. The answer is not farfetched, but before us here.

2.             General Dambazau has worked diligently all his life and contributed immensely to national development both as a military officer and as an intellectual. His enormous achievements as Chief of Army Staff barely twelve months in office, clearly makes him deserving of this honour. No doubt, his focus has been determined by the vision he declared from the onset as:

"To ensure that the NA continues to be the pride of the nation; with the capacity not only to effectively discharge our constitutional responsibilities; but to also meet contemporary challenges through effective utilisation of available resources; high standard of training and discipline; adherence to military values; effective command and control; observance of the rule of law; and excellent civil-military relations ."  

3.             His concern for the welfare of troops and quest for high standard of training has made him to embark on many projects all aimed at uplifting the wellbeing of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army including their families. Though too numerous to mention, suffice to say that programmes such as the purchase of buses to ease soldiers transportation problem in Lagos and major urban areas has given pride to the Army  and eliminated contentious issues of soldiers wranglings with commuters. Similar programme on transportation now gives dignifying movement of troops proceeding or returning from foreign missions or exercises.

4.             The Chief of Army Staff's penchant for welfare of troops are inexhaustible. It is in this spirit that he has embarked on the construction of an ultra-modern Shehu Musa Yaradua Barracks to alleviate the acute shortage of accommodation being faced by soldiers especially here in Abuja. Another effort is seen in his determination to provide state of the art intensive care medical units; to be achieved through the complete reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna and Military Hospital Yaba. The provision of training aids and buses to all the Nigerian Army training schools; as well as the purchase of ambulances and patrol vehicles for most units of the Army in order to enhance efficiency and professionalism especially in internal security operations, are other indices of remarkable development in the Army since General Dambazau assumed command as Chief of Army Staff. Forward Operational Bases have been established in Lagos and Abuja to facilitate the welfare and logistics for   soldiers going on Peacekeeping Operations they no longer commute by trucks to airports, or their bases. Rather they are driven in air conditioned luxurious buses for the purpose.

5.             His concern for a harmonious co-existence between the Army and its publics must have motivated his sponsorship of the Directorate of Army Public Relations Training Conference earlier this year. The forum was the first of its kind in over ten years for that outfit of the army. Before then, General Dambazau has restored the dignity and the hope of professional Public Relations officers in the army by empowering them to practice in line with the demands of law as demanded by Decree 16 of 1990 (now Act of the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Nigeria). His personal attendance at the Directorate of Army Public Relations Conference was most indicative of his extra-ordinary commitment to the growth of the profession of Public Relations in the Army. The adoption of that event which the Chief of Army Staff conducted in conjunction with Honourable Minister of Information and Communication, assumed an epoch making dimension as the forum was also used to launch the ‘Rebrand Nigeria Campaign' for the military.

6.             Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, I am not attempting to write the confidential report of the Chief of Army Staff, neither am I fit to chronicle all the General's accomplishments in military service or within his one year tenure as Chief of Army Staff. I must however intimate you with those features that have endeared General Dambazau to Nigerians, especially the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. His clear vision for the Nigerian Army, the observance of rule of law and promotion of excellent civil-military relations, are of particular interest to us in the institute.

7.             It is noteworthy for instance that no serious soldier/police or soldier/civilians clashes have been recorded in the country within the last one year. This bears eloquent testimony to his exemplary leadership qualities. It may interest all to know that the Chief of Army Staff has personally presented or mandated papers to be presented in various army fora with a view to train on the values and essence of excellent civil-military relations.

8.             Training it is said, is the best welfare the commander can give his men. General Dambazau has taken training to a higher level within one year. The upgrading of the hitherto Peace Keeping Wing of the School of Infantry into a full pledged Peace Keeping Training Centre has now created a pleasant impression at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Concerted efforts are being made to ensure that all Army contingents going on Peacekeeping operations are well kitted and equipped. Apart from giving the soldiers a sense of pride, this measures will also enhance the esteem of the Nigerian Army. No doubt, in the court of public opinion, General Dambazau ranks very high among the few role models young Nigerians look up to in this nation.

9.             According to our elders, the paths that speed us towards our dreams are very complex and challenging. So it has been with Lt Gen Dambazau who started out from a very humble beginning. Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was born in 1954 to the family of Alhaji Bala Dambazau and Hajiya Hajara Bala Dambazau. After his primary school education in Zaria, he gained admission into the prestigious Barewa College in the same town in 1970.  On graduation in June 1974, he went to the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna as a member of the 17 Regular Combatant Course.  He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in June 1977.

10.          During the course of his military career, he has held numerous command, instructional and staff appointments. Until his appointment as the 17^th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, an army with over 100 years of history, he was the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army.

11.          As part of his numerous contribution on training, General Dambazau served as the Registrar/Instructor, Nigerian Defence Academy from 1993 - 1999 and later Chief Instructor, at the Support Weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 - 2001 before becoming  a Directing Staff at the then National War College from 2004 - 2006.  Subsequently, he became the Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the same Institution in 2006.  This earned him the highly revered appellation of the Fellow of the War College Dagger (fwc[+]).

12.          Lieutenant General AB Dambazau has also held several Staff appointments before his appointment as the 17^th Chief of Army Staff.  He was a Staff Officer at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police (NACMP) in 1979 before he became an Aide-de-Camp to the then Chief of Army Staff.  He was also a Special Investigator at the Special Investigation Bureau of the NACMP from 1984 - 1985.  Subsequently, he was appointed Military Assistant to the Director Army Training and Operations at the Army Headquarters.  Lieutenant General Dambazau also served as the Principal General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of Defence (PGSO-HMOD) in 2006.  In January 2007, he was appointed the Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation (CASE).

13.          Since his commission as an officer, General Dambazau, in addition to the Young Officers' and Surveillance Platoon Commanders' Courses has attended at the then Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) in 1978, he has over the years attended both civil and military courses within and outside Nigeria that earned him several academic qualifications and awards. These includes the United States Military Police School, Fort MacLelan where he earned a Diploma in Military Police Basic Training, Kent State University, Ohio, from 1980 - 1984, for a Bachelors' Degree in Criminal Justice and Masters Degree in International Relations.  He also attended the University of Keele, United Kingdom where he was awarded a Doctorate Degree in Criminology.  He also attended Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College for his Senior Division course from 1991 - 1992. The Chief of Army Staff was also at the Infantry Centre and School, Jaji for the Commanding Officers' Course before proceeding to India's National Defence College, New Delhi in 2003 for his Higher Strategic Military Course.

14.          General Dambazau has an excellent flair for writing cutting across diverse aspect of human endeavours.  In addition to his doctorate thesis, he authored five books as follows:

a.             Military Law Terminologies, Spectrum Books Limited, 1990.

b.             Law and Criminality in Nigeria, University Press, 1994.

c.             Issues in Crime Prevention and Control in Nigeria, Baraka Press, 1996.

d.             Criminology and Criminal Justice, Nigerian Defence Academy Press, 1999.

e.             Criminology and Criminal Justice, Second Edition, Spectrum Books, 2007.

16.          Destined for greater heights in his chosen career, General Dambazau, has always been promoted to the next higher rank as at when due. The recipient is happily married to Hajiya Hadiza and is blessed with children and grandchildren.  Rather than indulge in idle talks at his leisure, General Dambazau takes time to play Golf, listen to traditional music or delve into scholarly research.

17.          With this, I humbly and most respectfully present Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, CFR for the conferment of Fellowship of the respected Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.