The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, has directed all Nigerian Army training institutions to build appropriate capacities and competencies that will make the army a formidable force.
He said this would assist in dealing with all security threats confronting the nation.
Attahiru gave the directive during the inauguration Army War College Nigeria Course 5/2021 on Friday in Abuja.
He said the college was conceptualised to bridge the training gaps in the area of strategic and tactical among officers of Nigerian army to confront the emerging national security challenges.
Attahiru expressed confident that the participants would be equipped with the requisite tools use for planning and execution of military operations.
According to him, officers are also expected to enhance synergy required to function efficiently with other security agencies in the conduct of operations.
He said the course was in line with his vision “to have a Nigerian Army that is Repositioned to Professionally Defeat all Adversities in a Joint Environment.
“In this regard, I have directed that all Nigerian Army training institutions should build appropriate capacities and competencies that will make the Nigerian army a formidable force.
“As you are all aware, our nation has been grappling with myriad of security challenges which includes insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality across all the states of the federation.
“As daunting as these challenges may be, I strongly believe that they present opportunities for leadership, especially at the operational levels which you currently belong to.
“Therefore, I challenge you to make good use of your time at the college and imbibe knowledge to open your mind to new ideas that enhance the defence and security of our nation.”
The Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Major General Solomon Udounwa, said the course had 62 participants from the armed forces, other security agencies with three from allied countries of Togo, Liberia and Congo.
Udounwa said the college had continued to remind participants that the dynamics of contemporary operating environment placed a premium on operational-level leaders with requisite expertise in strategic thinking.
According to him, their participation in the course is coming against the backdrop of myriad of security challenges affecting our nation, the sub-region and indeed the world.
He said: “Accordingly, the requirement for highly skilled and motivated operational-level leaders capable of performing optimally in joint environment is more pressing than ever before.
“The Chief of Army Staff’s vision which seeks to have a Nigerian Army that is repositioned to professionally defeat all adversaries in a joint environment had provided direction for all of us to navigate through these challenges.
“The AWCN is already geared towards attaining this vision keying into the cardinal pillars of readiness, duty to country, capacity and continuous leadership development.”
The inaugural lecture was entitled: “Military Leadership and Emerging Threats to Nigeria’s National Security: My Perspective.”
The lecture was delivered by the former Chief of Army Staff and immediate past Minister of Interior, retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau.
Attahiru also performed the groundbreaking for staff residential accommodation for the college.
