Army Needs Media, Public Support – COAS Tells Students

By Precious Salau, Daniel Nnam

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. O.O. Oluyede, has called for active participation of the media and public in guaranteeing the success of its role of protecting citizens. This was mentioned during the maiden edition of the Nigerian Army Tertiary Students and Future Journalists Parley, held at the Afe Babalola Hall, on Tuesday, August 12.

Themed “Harmonizing Diverse Perspectives for National Security,” the event was hosted by the African Centre for Media and Inter-cultural Dialogue (ACMID) and the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Mass Communication Students Association (MCSA), University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The Army Chief, represented by Brigadier General Olawale Oyekola, noted the role of the media in the success of its operations. “The importance of the media for a successful military operation cannot be overemphasised. The media influences public support, which is a variable for success,” he said.

He also emphasised the need for public support, imploring everyone to participate in the protection of society. “No army, however well trained and equipped, can win a war without the support, trust and understanding of the public it serves to protect,” he stressed.

Also present at the event, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Jibrin Baba Ndace, urged student journalists to promote informed vigilance through the media, particularly social media, rather than echo fear. According to him, “Social media is a battlespace, and as journalists, we should be sensitive to issues of misinformation, disinformation, and sensationalism that endanger national defence.”

In an interview with UNILAG Sun, Dr. Suraj Olunifesi, Executive Director at ACMID and Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Lagos, stated that there is a need for a unified perspective from the military and media to ensure national security.

“This parley was necessary because it’s about unifying the sword and the pen, about driving inclusive narratives, and bridging the divide. That is why people are interested in it,” he said.

The maiden edition of the Nigerian Army Tertiary Students and Future Journalists Parley brought tertiary students from over 16 leading institutions.