The United States Army War College (USAWC) has posthumously conferred one of its highest honours on Nigeria’s late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
The former COAS died on November 5, 2024.
The USAWC inducted Lagbaja into its International Hall of Fame (IHOF).
The honour comes nearly a year after the late Lagbaja passed away in Lagos State at the age of 56, following a brief illness.
The recognition was conferred during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Convention at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre, Washington, D.C., United States of America, on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The Commandant of the USAWC, Major General Trevor Bredenkamp, presented the posthumous honour in acknowledgement of the late General Lagbaja’s leadership.
Bredenkamp said the deceased had a “visionary service and exceptional contributions to the advancement of military professionalism and international peace and security”, the statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, reads.
Anele said the recognition underscores his outstanding achievements as an alumnus of the institution who rose meritoriously to the zenith of his military career as Nigeria’s 23rd Chief of Army Staff.
She said that the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja was one of the six eminent inductees honoured at this year’s event.
She said, “His induction represents a historic milestone as he became the first ever Nigerian Army officer to be enshrined in the USAWC International Hall of Fame in the institution’s illustrious 124-year history, a testament to his enduring legacy of excellence and service to humanity.
Anele said the honour was received by Major General Adeleke Ayannuga, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, alongside the deceased wife, Mrs Maria Abiodun Lagbaja.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Director General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General G.O. Adesina; the Director General of 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 the Nigerian Defence Attaché to the United States, Army officers undergoing higher professional military education at the National Defence University, Washington D.C., the United States Army War College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, alongside other senior Nigerian Army officers participating in the AUSA 2025 Annual Convention.
In his remarks, the COAS affirmed that the recognition not only immortalises the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s distinguished service but also reinforces the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the universal ideals of professionalism, discipline and dedication to global peace and security.
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