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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The newly appointed Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Mohammed Uba, has assumed office with a promise to operate under four strategic priorities namely unity of purpose, timeliness and transparency, digital innovation, and media collaboration.
Uba has also promised to run an open door policy for constructive engagement and appeal to the media for support on counter divisive narratives and celebrate stories of valor and sacrifice.
The new Defence spokesman made this known when he took over from his predecessor Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
Gen. Uba, while noting the security challenges bedevilling the country where misinformation can erode trust in seconds and adversaries exploit vulnerabilities in our information ecosystem to cause division among the populace, said “We will not cede ground”.
He assured that through rigorous fact-checking, public education campaigns, and partnerships with the media and cyber security experts, he will use his office to fortify Nigeria’s defence information architecture.
While assuring the Chief of Defence Staff to uphold the highest standards of integrity and innovation in this role, Gen. Uba called on directors of Public Relations and Information of the services to embrace their responsibility with vigour, total commitment, and professionalism, knowing that every press release, social media post, and public engagement is a thread in the tapestry of national defence and security.
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A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and seasoned military officer with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication from the prestigious Bayero University Kano (BUK), Uba was born on July 1, 1968, in Tudun Wada, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
He began his military journey at the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of Short Service Combatant Course 30. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on March 13, 1993, and initially served in the Directorate of Army Public Relations before transitioning to the Infantry Corps.
He attended Tudun Wada Primary School and Saint Thomas Secondary School in Kano, where he earned his First School Leaving Certificate and West African School Certificate in 1981 and 1986 respectively. He later graduated from Bayero University Kano in 1990 with a degree in Mass Communication. He also obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in 2009 and a Master’s degree in Strategic and Development Studies from Bangladesh University of Professionals in 2019.
Throughout his career, Brig Gen Uba has completed all relevant military courses, including the Senior Staff Course at Ghana Armed Forces Command & Staff College and the National Defence Course at the National Defence College in Bangladesh. He has held numerous command, staff, and instructional roles, including Officer in Charge of Administration at the Infantry Centre and School, Commander of the 401 Special Forces Brigade in Borno State, and Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Contingent to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda. He also served as Public Relations Officer to a former Chief of Army Staff, where he played a key role in projecting a positive image of the Nigerian Army.
Brig Gen Uba was a distinguished member of the Directing Staff and Chief Instructor at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. He was seconded to the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada as the DHQ Training Team Leader, training customs officers in command and staff responsibilities. He also served as Deputy Director Peacekeeping Operations and Director Personnel Services at Army Headquarters. Until his recent appointment, he was the Director of the Department of Joint Studies at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, including the Grand Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Field Command Medal, Passed Staff Course double dagger (++), National Defence College (Bangladesh), Nigerian Army Outstanding Tactical Command Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award Medal.
Brig Gen Uba is affiliated with several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, and the Nigerian Society of International Affairs. He is happily married with children and enjoys playing squash and reading in his leisure time.
