Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), has urged graduating army officers to strengthen their means to anticipate dangers, determine vulnerabilities and adapt extra shortly than these looking for to undermine nationwide safety. He pressured that their process shouldn’t be merely to reply to threats after they emerge.
He additionally urged the officers to mix skilled competence with mental curiosity and the braveness to make tough selections beneath strain.
Speaking on the commencement ceremony of Army War College Nigeria Course 10/2026 yesterday in Abuja, the Defence Minister pressured that Nigeria was making efforts to develop indigenous defence capabilities in varied areas whereas strengthening cooperation with dependable worldwide companions.
He stated, “The process earlier than you, subsequently, shouldn’t be merely to reply to threats after they emerge. We should strengthen our means to anticipate dangers, determine vulnerabilities and adapt extra shortly than those that search to undermine our nationwide safety.
“I consider this faculty has imparted these expertise to you. Today’s commanders and leaders should mix skilled competence with mental curiosity and have the braveness to make tough selections beneath strain.
“At the forefront of our strategic vision, we are making efforts to develop indigenous defence capabilities in various areas while strengthening cooperation with reliable international partners. Our long-term security architecture cannot rest solely on foreign technologies.”
General Musa stated Nigeria was progressively constructing the capability to perceive, preserve, adapt and produce methods that reply to its personal operational realities.
He stated this required purposeful collaboration among the many Armed Forces, universities, analysis establishments, defence industries and Nigerian innovators.
He added, “Our establishments should construct capability in areas related to hybrid warfare, akin to unmanned aerial methods, synthetic intelligence, cyber capabilities and knowledge analytics, to improve operational effectiveness. As present and future operational and strategic leaders, you’ve got a direct function to play on this course of.
“Innovation is not the exclusive responsibility of engineers, scientists or procurement specialists. Commanders are often best placed to identify operational gaps, articulate problems clearly and work towards developing solutions.”
He concluded that the worth of the faculty would in the end be measured not by the certificates alone, however by the standard of judgement the officers demonstrated in management and the outcomes they delivered within the area.
