Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor, CFR, has been confirmed as the Keynote Speaker at the 2026 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series.
The Secretary of the Maris Trust Council (MTC), organisers of the lecture, Fidelis Egugbo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Warri.
According to Egugbo, General Irabor will personally deliver the lecture at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by 12 noon prompt. He added that the topic of the lecture would be unveiled to the public in the coming days.
Egugbo expressed appreciation to the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, PhD, for their continued support for the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series.
He noted that the governor has made Delta State more conducive for hosting international discourse, tourism and other business activities, adding that the approval of the prestigious Unity Hall at Government House, Asaba, for the lecture further underscores the state government’s commitment to intellectual engagement.
Egugbo also thanked members of the public for suggesting 64 topics and nominating 33 individuals for the keynote role, explaining that General Irabor emerged from the selection process, with his eventual topic to be chosen from the proposals submitted.
He encouraged citizens to continue contributing ideas towards addressing societal challenges, stressing that collective effort remains key to building a better society.
Egugbo further assured participants of a rich and impactful discourse at the 2026 edition of the lecture, while appreciating all nominees and contributors whose suggestions could not be selected.
Profile of General Irabor
General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor was born on October 5, 1965, in Aliokpu, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1983 as a member of the 34 Regular Course and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1986 into the Signals Corps of the Nigerian Army.
Irabor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and two Master’s degrees from the University of Ghana and Bangladesh.
He played a major role in Nigeria’s fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and other security threats, serving notably as the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, where he earned the nickname “Boko Haram nemesis” for his resilience and operational effectiveness.
Under his leadership, several territories were reclaimed from insurgents, including the clearance of the Sambisa Forest.
On January 26, 2021, he was appointed the 17th Chief of Defence Staff, the highest military office in Nigeria. He received several honours for his service, including a national honour in 2022.
General Irabor retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces on June 19, 2023.