By Harriet Tornguvan
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Regimental Sergeant Majors (RSMs) of the Nigerian Army to reinforce the warrior ethos among troops as part of efforts to sustain combat power, improve operational effectiveness and ensure mission success across formations and units nationwide.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the First Regimental Sergeant Majors’ Convention 2026 held at the JN Garba Hall, Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, the COAS described RSMs as critical custodians of discipline, regimentation and military tradition within the Nigerian Army.
In a statement issued by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Shaibu said the convention was designed to strengthen leadership capacity, mentorship culture and regimental standards in line with the transformation drive of the Nigerian Army.
The convention, themed “Empowering Regimental Sergeant Majors to Drive Combat Readiness and Professional Excellence,” brought together senior non-commissioned officers for professional engagement, strategic discourse and exchange of operational experiences aimed at improving combat readiness and operational efficiency.
The Army chief stressed that the leadership influence of RSMs remains essential in sustaining troop morale, operational cohesion and esprit de corps, especially among personnel deployed in various theatres of operations across the country.
He noted that cultivating a strong warrior ethos was central to building resilient, disciplined and mission-oriented forces capable of confronting emerging and asymmetric security threats effectively.
Shaibu also warned against the misuse of social media and other digital platforms by military personnel, cautioning that careless online engagements could compromise operational security, weaken institutional integrity and negatively impact ongoing operations.
He urged RSMs to enforce responsible digital conduct among troops and ensure strict adherence to established communication protocols within their formations and units.
The COAS further tasked senior non-commissioned officers to intensify mentorship and leadership guidance for younger soldiers to preserve regimental values, strengthen professionalism and promote ethical conduct across all levels of command responsibility.
According to him, effective mentorship remains critical to developing a highly motivated, combat-ready and professionally grounded force.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General Isa Abdullahi, said the convention reflected the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing administrative efficiency, professional excellence and sustained operational readiness in line with the COAS’ command philosophy.
He urged participants to apply the knowledge and strategic insights gained during the convention towards improving troop welfare, discipline, regimentation and operational effectiveness in their respective formations and units.
