Major General Waidi Shaibu was born on 18 December 1971 in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State. He gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 41 Regular Course in 1989 and was commissioned on 17 September 1994 as a Second Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps.
He graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1993. He equally holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, as well as another Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan. He also holds a Masters Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University in Washington DC.
He is equally an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Programme in Leadership for the 21st century: Chaos, Conflict and Courage. He also has obtained the Advanced Executive Certificate in Applied Leadership and Strategy from the National Productivity Senior Executive Programme. He has attended many seminars on Irregular and Hybrid Warfare as well as Gray Zone Operations.
He attended the following military courses; Young Officer Course Armour 1995, Young Officers Course Infantry 1996, Company Amphibious Operation Course 1997, Platoon Commanders Course Armour 1998, Communication Instructors Course Armour 1998, Junior Staff Course Ghana 2001, Company Commanders Course Armour 2003, Senior Staff Course Jaji-Nigeria 2005/2006 and Exclusive Economic Zone Course 2007. Other courses include the Battalion Commanders Course Armour 2011, Defense Resources Management Course in Kenya 2015, and Higher Defence Management College at the National Defense College, Abuja Course 24 2015/2016. In addition, Counter Terrorism Fellows Programme at the College of International Security Affairs at National Defence University Washington DC USA 2017.
He has also held various appointments during the course of his career. These include Ag Chief of Training for Exercise and Training AHQ Abuja, Brigade Commander 21 Special Armoured Brigade Bama, Director Coordination National Defence Collage, Directing Staff National Defence College Abuja, Principal Staff Officer (Army) Defence Headquarters, Chief Instructor, Nigeria Army Armour School, Assistant Director Peace Keeping Operations Defence Headquarters, Commanding Officer 243 Battalion Monguno and Chief of Staff, 23 Brigade Headquarters, Yola as well as the Principal Staff Officer/Military Assistant to Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia.
The other appointments held are the GSO II Ops at Army Headquarters, Military Observer/Logistics Officer African Mission in Sudan, Training Officer Armed Forces Simulation Centre, ADC to General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Company Commander 242 Recce Battalion, Platoon Commander 245 Recce Battalion. He was the General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Op HADIN KAI Maiduguri and until his appointment as COAS, he was serving at the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Center, Abuja.
He has also participated in various military operations namely Operation HARMONY, Operation BOYONA, Operation ZAMAN LAFIYA, Operation LAFIYA DOLE and Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO, Operation HADIN KAI, Operation DESERT SANITY and LAKE SANITY, the African Mission in Sudan and the United Nation Mission in Liberia. He was also part of Nigeria’s Foreign Training Assistance Mission to Liberia.
The Senior Officer has the following decorations Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Order (Liberia), Distinguished Service Star, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, Pass Staff College, Fellow of Defence College, Foreign Assistance Training Medal and the Purple Heart Medal for Counter Insurgency Operation in North East Nigeria.
His hobbies include reading, early morning walk and deep contemplation.
He is happily married to Hajia Safiyyah Hassan and the union is blessed with 2 kids; a boy Haneef and a girl Hafeeza.