As Nigeria continues to grapple with complex internal security challenges, former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd), is set to lead a national conversation on security reform and unity 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 comes amid heightened public concern over insecurity, terrorism, and communal conflicts in the country.
Renowned communication scholar and former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Prof. Tonnie Osa Iredia, will chair the event, which begins at 10 a.m.
According to Mrs. Maria Cardillo, Chair of the Organising Committee, Just Friends Club of Nigeria, the annual lecture has become one of the nation’s most anticipated civic dialogues, bringing together leaders from government, academia, and the security sector to discuss pragmatic approaches to national stability.
“General Dambazau’s experience as both a soldier and scholar makes him uniquely positioned to dissect Nigeria’s internal security architecture and offer workable solutions,” Mrs. Cardillo noted, adding that this year’s theme underscores the need for fresh thinking and institutional reform to strengthen peace and cohesion.
In a separate statement, JFCN President, Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, said the event will serve as a policy-driven platform for reflection on how Nigeria can rebuild its internal security system amid 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. We believe his lecture will challenge orthodoxies and offer a bold, coherent vision for Nigeria’s security and unity,” Ohwahwa stated.
Dambazau, who served as Chief of Army Staff between 2008 and 2010 and as Minister of Interior from 2015 to 2019, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most authoritative voices on national security. A scholar-soldier with a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Keele, United Kingdom, he has authored several works on counterterrorism, civil-military relations, and security sector reform.
The lecture will be followed by a high-level panel discussion featuring Air Vice Marshal Gbolahan Adekunle (Rtd), former Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air Force, and Prof. Okey Ikechukwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The discussants will provide insights and policy recommendations arising from the keynote.
The Just Friends Club of Nigeria, a non-partisan network of professionals and public-spirited individuals, continues to champion civic engagement and good governance through its Annual Lecture Series. This year’s edition is expected to draw policymakers, lawmakers, retired security chiefs, traditional rulers, academics, and members of the diplomatic community.