The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has identified effective data management and record keeping as critical to informed decision-making, operational efficiency, accountability and the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu stated this on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, while declaring open the 4th edition of the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Data Management and Record-Keeping Seminar at the Armed Forces Officers’ Mess, Abuja.
The seminar, themed “Efficient Data Management and Record-Keeping: Imperative for Advancing the Transformation of the Nigerian Army,” brought together military personnel, academics and other experts to examine contemporary approaches to managing, securing and preserving critical institutional information.
Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Combat Arms Research, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General Eyitayo Oyinlola, the COAS said the effectiveness of investments in force structure, equipment acquisition and personnel training depended largely on the availability of accurate, secure and timely information.
He noted that critical decisions relating to recruitment, commissioning, postings, promotions, career progression, welfare, logistics, force generation and operational planning were fundamentally dependent on the quality and accessibility of relevant data.
According to him, the rapidly changing security environment and increasing reliance on digital technologies have made it necessary for the Army to move beyond traditional approaches to records management.
Shaibu therefore called for integrated, secure and technology-driven systems capable of improving efficiency, interoperability and institutional resilience.
He also urged personnel to strengthen their capacity in data governance, cybersecurity, records preservation and information assurance.
The Army Chief stressed that effective data management and record keeping should be regarded as a collective institutional responsibility requiring discipline, professionalism and accountability at every level of command.
He charged participants at the seminar to make the most of the opportunity by acquiring new knowledge, exchanging ideas and translating lessons learned into measurable improvements within their respective formations, units and establishments.
Shaibu also commended the Department of Military Secretary for organising the seminar, describing it as timely and relevant to strengthening the Army’s institutional processes.
The COAS expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for what he described as his sustained support for the transformation and modernisation of the Nigerian Army.
He said the President’s strategic leadership had contributed to enhanced operational capabilities, equipment modernisation, personnel welfare and institutional reforms in the Service.
Earlier, the Acting Military Secretary (Army), Brigadier General Mathew Oyekola, described efficient data management and record keeping as indispensable to sound administration, institutional memory and operational effectiveness.
Oyekola said the seminar was in line with the COAS Command Philosophy of “Advancing the Transformation of the Nigerian Army into a More Professional, Adaptable, Combat Ready and Resilient Force Capable of Decisively Discharging its Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”
He explained that the quality, accuracy, security and accessibility of the Army’s information assets were central to credible decision-making, career management, operational planning, logistics support, legal compliance, financial accountability and institutional continuity.
The Acting Military Secretary said the seminar was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to implement efficient, secure and standardised data management and record-keeping practices.
He urged personnel to promote a culture of accuracy, timeliness and accountability, while strictly adhering to established Standard Operating Procedures.
“Every report generated and every personnel record maintained contributes to preserving the institutional memory of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
Delivering the keynote lecture, titled “Efficient Data Management and Record Keeping: A Catalyst for Enhancing Career Management and Administration in the Nigerian Army,” Major General Nosakhare Ugbo (rtd) said modern military career management could no longer rely on manual and fragmented systems.
Ugbo maintained that accurate and reliable data directly influenced critical aspects of personnel administration, including recruitment, commissioning, postings, promotions, courses, appointments, welfare and retirement benefits.
He urged Army personnel to embrace technology-driven solutions and adhere strictly to established procedures, stressing that accurate record keeping should be treated as a professional responsibility.
The retired general also called for sustained investment in data governance, cybersecurity and capacity development to strengthen personnel administration and enable the Nigerian Army to respond effectively to the demands of an evolving security environment.
The seminar featured lectures and interactive sessions by military and academic experts, with discussions focusing on data governance, cybersecurity, digital records management, information assurance, records preservation and contemporary practices for improving career management and administration in the Nigerian Army.
