Irabor To Deliver Maris Lecture

​FORMER Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has been confirmed as the Keynote Speaker at this year’s edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series.
Secretary of the Maris Trust Council (MTC), organisers of the lecture series, Fidelis Egugbo, disclosed this in Warri, Delta State, said: “It is a thing of joy to announce to the public, especially loyal participants of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series, that former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has accepted to be the Keynote Speaker at this year’s lecture.
​”Irabor confirmed that he will personally be at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon to speak on a topic, to be unveiled to the public in a few days.
​”We thank Governor Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Deputy, Monday Onyeme, for supporting the lecture series.”
Egugbo said it was a thing of joy that Oborevwori has made Delta more conducive for hosting international discourse, tourism and other business activities, and has again, approved the venue for this year’s lecture series.
​”We are also grateful to the public, who suggested 64 topics and nominated 33 persons to be the Keynote Speaker. From your suggestions, Irabor emerged as the speaker, and his topic will be selected from those you proposed.
​”Your interest in proffering solutions to the challenges of society can only be rewarded by God.
“From us at MTC, we say thank you and we look forward to your active participation. Kindly understand that we can only select one Keynote Speaker and one topic for discussion, though we greatly appreciate all your suggestions and follow-up activities.
“Continue to pray and work for a better society, because collectively, we can leave the world better than we found it.”
Irabor, before his appointment as the 17th CDS on January 26, 2021, the highest-ranking military position in Nigeria, was Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, during which time he was known as the “Boko Haram nemesis” due to his courage and determination in tackling the insurgents.
He has received numerous awards for his exceptional service, including a national honour in 2022, and Irabor retired on June 19, 2023.