By Unue Emeka,
Former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dele Ezeoba (retd.), will chair the 2026 edition of the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture, the Maris Trust Council (MTC) has announced.
The Secretary of the Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that Admiral Ezeoba’s acceptance has further heightened anticipation for the annual lecture series.
Egugbo said the 2026 lecture, themed “Insecurity: Bane of Nigeria’s Unity and Progress,” will feature Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), as the Keynote Speaker. He recalled that the Council had earlier announced Sir Michael Ejiofor, a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and a security expert, as a discussant, alongside three professors and other specialists who have confirmed their participation.
“As the date draws nearer, we shall continue to update the public on other dignitaries billed to attend as Special Guests of Honour, Guests of Honour, Father and Mother of the Day, as well as the Moderator,” Egugbo said.
He noted that past chairmen of the Maris Lecture include Dr Gabriel Ogbechie, OON; Ambassador Godson Echegile, OON; Chief Nicholas Chizea, the Oshimili Atata of Asaba; Chief Kennedy Kamma, Esq.; and His Imperial Majesty, Obi Dr Greg Oputa III, the Obi of Aboh Kingdom.
According to Egugbo, Admiral Ezeoba’s presence as chairman underscores expectations that Asaba will host a high-level security discourse ahead of the general elections.
Admiral Ezeoba, the 20th Chief of the Naval Staff, joined the Nigerian Navy in 1976 and retired in January 2014 after a distinguished career. He served in several key positions, including Director of Training at Defence Headquarters, Chief of Training and Operations at Naval Headquarters, and Chief of Defence Administration at Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; Britannia Royal Naval College; Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; and the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He also holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. His honours include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Defence Superior Service Medal.
Admiral Ezeoba has also chaired the Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), led the Presidential Inter-Agency Maritime Security Task Force (IAMSTF), and served as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Admiralty University of Nigeria.
The Maris Lecture is held annually on the Wednesday of Holy Week. The 2026 edition will take place on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, at 12 noon. For inquiries and sponsorship, contact Fidelis on +234 803 293 3933.
