Former chief of army staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau, will lead a team of experts to examine Nigeria’s security architecture at the 7seventh annual lecture of Just Friends Club of Nigeria on November 4.

This was announced in a statement by the chairman of the organising committee of JFCN, Maria Cardillo.

JFCN is a non-partisan network of Nigerian professionals, technocrats and public-spirited individuals committed to civic engagement, public policy reform and good governance.

Ms Cardillo said that the theme for the lecture is “Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Quest for National Cohesion: A New Paradigm for Internal Security Architecture and Governance”.

She announced that the event will be held under the chairmanship of Tonnie Iredia, the former director-general of the Nigerian Television Authority and former National Orientation Agency as well as founder of the Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City.

Ms Cardillo said that the lecture, which is scheduled to be held at the Abuja Bolingo Hotel, seeks solutions to terrorism, communal conflicts and organised crime at a time of heightened public concerns over Nigeria’s internal security crisis and the search for lasting peace.

She explained that it also seeks to address institutional weaknesses and propose practical reforms that balance law enforcement, intelligence gathering and community-based approaches.

Ms Cardillo said that the lecture will also touch on the importance of national cohesion and inclusive governance as tools for long-term peace and stability.

According to the statement, JFCN president Fred Ohwahwa said that the high-profile event will provide a platform for deeper reflection and policy-driven conversation on how Nigeria can rethink and rebuild internal security systems in light of emerging national threats.

“We are delighted and honoured to host Dambazau at this critical time in our national journey. His wealth of experience and thoughtful 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,” said the statement.

Mr Dambazau, who served as chief of army staff from 2008 to 2010 and later as Minister of Interior from 2015 to 2019, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most experienced voices on security matters.

He holds a PhD in criminology from the University of Keele, United Kingdom, and has authored several academic and policy papers on security sector reform, counterterrorism and civil-military relations.

Panellists expected at the lecture include former chief of policy and plans of the Nigerian Air Force, Gbolahan Adekunle, and Okey Ikechukwu, strategic management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

The lecture will draw an audience from top government officials, lawmakers, retired military officers, traditional rulers, youth leaders, academics, civil society advocates and members of the diplomatic community, among others.

(NAN)