By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has asked senior military officers to explore national security through perspectives beyond the traditional kinetic approaches familiar to them.
Oluyede made the call while inaugurating the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 7/2024 conducted by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) and Nigerian Defence Academy, on Thursday in Abuja.
He was represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Sani Muhammed.
He said the course was conceived in line with the centre’s mandate to provide site-based solutions to defence and security challenges bedevilling the nation.
According to him, the programme’s focus extends beyond academics, taking into account other factors due to its unique target audience, the nation’s entire security architecture.
“The programme is designed to explore national security through perspectives beyond the traditional kinetic approaches familiar to most participants.
“Thus, factors such as food and physical security, poverty reduction and employment, as well as management of medium, small and micro enterprises, among others, are given adequate attention,’’ he said.
Oluyede said that the positive feedbacks from the participants and observers of the previous courses were signs of pride to the Nigerian Army.
He said the course would equip leaders with holistic knowledge of human endeavours to address those primary goals such as professional military education and fostering enduring organisational terms and conditions of service.
“This a unique course that offers so much more than what you could have come across in most of your other courses, either in your services and agencies or directly from tertiary institutions.
“You therefore stand to gain maximally by paying attention to the resource persons and faculty members.
“Let me also reaffirm our own and other loyalty in the protection of the territorial integrity of our dear nation,’’ he said.
A Member Board of Trustees of NARC and former COAS, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazau, said it was important to enhance knowledge and skills in the complexity of organisational management and decision-making.
Dambazau said it was crucial in today’s rapidly evolving public policy landscape to understanding how to formulate and implement effective strategies, analyse policy implications, and adapt to changing environments.
He encouraged them to approach each learning opportunity with an open mind, curiosity, and willingness to engage with their fellow participants, building a sense of camaraderie and collaboration.
“ May this course be a transformative and enriching experience that propels you towards greater heights in your professional pursuit,’’ he said.
The Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, appreciated the various services, agencies, and private organisations that were continually being part of the programme.
Wahab said the course was meant to bring people together from the different aspects of the security architecture and interested private organisations to look at strategic management and policy.
He said the course would also build capacities of the participants on efficient management of resources in their various places of responsibility.
He said the participants were expected to understand themselves, know their strengths and weaknesses to be able to work as a team.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA