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BY PHILIP NWOSU
The United States Army War College (USAWC) has posthumously honoured the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, with induction into its International Hall of Fame (IHOF)—one of the highest international honours bestowed on distinguished alumni of the institution.
Daily Sun learnt that the recognition was conferred on Monday, October 13, 2025, during the opening ceremony of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Convention held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre, Washington D.C.
According to a statement by Nigerian Army Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the posthumous honour was presented by the Commandant of the USAWC, Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp, in acknowledgement of the late General Lagbaja’s visionary leadership, professional excellence, and contributions to global peace and security.
The late General Lagbaja, who served as the 23rd Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army, was one of six distinguished officers inducted into the Hall of Fame at this year’s event. His induction marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Nigerian Army officer to be enshrined in the USAWC International Hall of Fame in the institution’s 124-year history.
Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, at the ceremony was Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, who received the award alongside Mrs. Maria Abiodun Lagbaja, widow of the late COAS.
Other dignitaries in attendance included the Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General G.O. Adesina; the Director General, Defence Headquarters Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre, Major General G.T.O. Ajetunmobi; and Mrs. Deborah Aboderin of the Office of Security Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Abuja.
Also present were Nigeria’s Defence Attaché to the United States, as well as Nigerian Army officers undergoing higher professional military education at the National Defense University, United States Army War College, and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Senior Nigerian Army officers participating in the AUSA 2025 Annual Convention also attended the ceremony.
Reacting to the honour, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, expressed pride in the recognition of the late Lagbaja, describing it as a monumental tribute to his distinguished service and a reaffirmation of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to global military professionalism.
“This singular honour immortalizes one of the Nigerian Army’s most illustrious and visionary leaders,” General Oluyede said. “It reinforces the Nigerian Army’s dedication to professionalism, discipline, and the universal ideals of peace and security.”
The United States Army War College International Hall of Fame was established to recognize international military leaders who have risen to the highest positions in their home countries’ armed forces after completing studies at the College.
Late Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s induction, the statement noted, underscores his enduring legacy as a soldier-scholar and global ambassador of military excellence.
