Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has unveiled a new command philosophy, PROSE, aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Army for enhanced professionalism, agility, and operational readiness.
Shaibu announced the initiative on Wednesday while delivering a lecture to participants of Senior Course 48 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, according to a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja.
The COAS explained that the Nigerian Army operates in a volatile and complex security environment, with ongoing commitments spanning counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and other internal security operations across the country.
“These realities demand not only tactical proficiency but also sustained institutional strength,” he said.
The PROSE doctrine — an acronym for Professional Excellence, Robust Administration, Operational Readiness, Strategic Cooperation, and Exemplary Leadership, is designed to accelerate the Army’s transformation into a highly professional, agile, and combat-effective force.
Shaibu described innovation as the “engine of progress” and resilience as the “defining spirit of the Nigerian soldier.”
Central to the philosophy is a Soldier-First Culture, which prioritises personnel welfare, morale, training, dignity, and empowerment. According to Shaibu, operational success extends beyond battlefield victories to include public trust, stronger civil-military relations, and strict adherence to the rule of law.
The COAS emphasised that effective leadership in the current security climate must be anchored on character, courage, and genuine concern for personnel, urging the participants whom he described as future operational and strategic leaders, to internalise the PROSE philosophy and translate it into measurable impact across formations.
The unveiling of the doctrine signals a strategic push by the Nigerian Army to balance ongoing internal security operations with long-term modernisation and institutional reform, ensuring the force remains capable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate in Nigeria’s multi-dimensional threat environment.