ASABA/Nigeria: Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor (rtd), CFR, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the 2026 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series, a flagship intellectual forum dedicated to governance and public sector reform.
The confirmation was announced on Tuesday in Warri by the Secretary of the Maris Trust Council (MTC), organisers of the annual lecture.
According to him, General Irabor has formally accepted the invitation and will deliver the keynote address at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by 12 noon, with the lecture topic to be unveiled in the coming days.
“It is with great joy that we announce to the public, especially our loyal participants, that former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, CFR, has accepted to serve as the keynote speaker at this year’s lecture,” the MTC secretary said.
He disclosed that the choice of Irabor followed an extensive nomination process in which members of the public suggested 64 topics and nominated 33 potential speakers, from which the retired general emerged.
The organisers expressed appreciation to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, PhD, for their continued support for the lecture series, noting that the governor had once again approved the use of the Unity Hall at Government House as the venue.
The council said the Oborevwori administration had made the state increasingly attractive for international discourse, tourism and business activities, providing a conducive atmosphere for hosting high-level intellectual engagements.
While thanking members of the public for their active participation in the nomination process, the organisers said only one topic and one speaker could be selected, assuring that all contributions were valued and appreciated.
They called on stakeholders to continue to pray and work for a better society, stressing that collective efforts remained essential in addressing the nation’s social and governance challenges.
General Irabor, who hails from Aliokpu, Agbor, in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, was born on October 5, 1965. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1983 as a member of the 34 Regular Course and was commissioned into the Signals Corps of the Nigerian Army in 1986.
An electrical engineering graduate with two master’s degrees from the University of Ghana and Bangladesh, Irabor played a prominent role in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations, particularly as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, where he earned the reputation of a relentless campaigner against Boko Haram.
He later served as the 17th Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria’s highest military office, following his appointment on January 26, 2021, overseeing major security operations nationwide.
Irabor, a recipient of several national and professional honours, retired from military service on June 19, 2023.
