By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, has urged officers of the Nigerian military to uphold the values of the Armed Forces and build the unifying force that Nigeria needs.
Badaru made the call at the graduation of the participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 8/2024, on Friday in Abuja.
He said that leadership was the cornerstone of military service, extending beyond mere orders to inspiring and guiding others towards a common goal.
According to him, this goal arises from one’s understanding of the interplay between strategic, operational and tactical level, as well as awareness of the geostrategic environment.
The minister said that the graduates of the college had been equipped with the tools that would enable them to lead and navigate the geostrategic landscape.
“I urge you to lead with integrity, courage and compassion, always remembering that true leadership is about serving others and making decisions that reflect the highest military values of honour and greatness.
“Gentlemen, the world is constantly evolving and the challenges we face are increasingly complex and ambiguous.
“As officers skilled in operational level planning, you will encounter uncertain and often frivolous situations.
“I thus encourage you to embrace those challenges with confidence, aptitude and determination.
“I encourage you all to uphold the values of our armed forces and build the unifying force that Nigeria needs, especially in this critical moment,” he said.
Badaru commended the commandant and members of the college faculty for their unwavering dedication towards successful completion of the course.
The minister said that it was a testament to their resilience and commitment to excellence.
He reiterated the support of President Bola Tinubu, to at all-time upholds the professional well-being of the armed forces to tackle contemporary and emerging threats.
The Commandant, AWCN, Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Maina, said the college had in its seven years of its existence, trained a good number of operational level senior military officers who were making significant contributions in operations across the country.
Maina said the college was eagerly looking forward to receiving pleasant feedback from the graduating participants on their performances as they get back to the field.
He said the college had provided them from the curriculum, valuable strategic thinking tools and skills in preparation, planning and conduct of operations, as well as the general application of land power, and wars in a joint environment.
“From now onward, you are expected to be able to critically think through contemporary challenges and develop implementable practical solutions,”he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the college graduated a total of 75 participants comprising 65 army officers, two officers each from the Navy and Air Force and six participants from allied countries.
The countries are Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Eswatini and the Republic of Liberia. (NAN)