US Army War College Honours Late COAS Lagbaja with Induction into International Hall of Fame

The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, has been posthumously inducted into the prestigious United States Army War College (USAWC) International Hall of Fame (IHOF) one of the highest international honours conferred by the institution.

The recognition, which took place on Monday, was announced during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington D.C., USA.

A statement by the  Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, said in a solemn yet colourful ceremony, Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp, Commandant of the USAWC, presented the honour in recognition of the late General Lagbaja’s sterling leadership, visionary service, and exceptional contributions to military professionalism and global peace.

The late General Lagbaja, a distinguished alumnus of the USAWC, was among six eminent international military leaders inducted this year. 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 — a testament to his enduring legacy of excellence and service to humanity.

Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, at the event was Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, who received the honour alongside Mrs Maria Abiodun Lagbaja, wife of the late COAS.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Major General G.O. Adesina, Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre; Major General G.T.O. Ajetunmobi, Director General, Defence Headquarters Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre; and Mrs Deborah Aboderin from the Office of Security Cooperation, U.S. Embassy, Abuja.

Also present were the Nigerian Defence Attaché to the United States, Nigerian Army officers undergoing professional military education at the National Defense University, U.S. Army War College, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, as well as senior officers participating in the AUSA 2025 Annual Convention.

In his reaction, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Army Staff, expressed profound pride in the honour, describing it as a fitting tribute to one of the Nigerian Army’s most visionary leaders. He noted that the recognition immortalizes the late General Lagbaja’s distinguished service and reaffirms the Nigerian Army’s dedication to the ideals of professionalism, discipline, and commitment to global peace and security.