The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja has inaugurated 77 participants of Course 8/2024 of the Army War College Nigeria, which comprises 66 participants from the Nigerian Army, 2 each from the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy while 7 participants from allied nations, 1 each from Congo Brazzaville, Cote Ivoire, Togo, Liberia, Eswatini and 2 participants from Cameroon.
According to the COAS, the AWCN is known for its rich curriculum and robust and stimulating unique coursework and today's inauguration marks the commencement of another 35 weeks of academic experience for 77 participants of Course 8/2024 at the Army War College Nigeria.
While congratulating the participants for being fortunaky to be selected to attend the high military strategic and management course, the COAS reminded them that their selection was based on individual competency, career prospects and recognition of their potential to undergo the career-defining course.
The COAS reiterated the purpose of the establishment of the prestigious institution in 2017 to bridge the identifying training gaps between the tactical and strategic levels of Warfare. The college has graduated 7 courses so far have been graduated and it is important to acknowledge the giant stride being made by the college as they have been living up to its purpose since its inception.
"Training is a crucial investment needed to achieve operational success. A nation that places a high premium on funding troops' training will spend less in prosecuting its wars. The prime place of training for the Nigerian Army in living up to its purpose as it's enshrined in the Nigeria constitution is apt in captured in my command philosophy which is "to transform the Nigerian army to a well trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within the joint environment."
General Lagbaja pledged that he will prioritize continuous training of the Nigerian Army personnel as a way of producing competent Nigerian Army officers and men who can effectively confront Nigegian's multi-faceted security challenges of the era.
He urged participants of Course 8/2024 to be conscious of the fact that military men and as prime stakeholders should not participate on the sideline. He challenged them to be courageous and ingenious in bringing valuable options to the table.
"You must realise that the Army War College Nigeria was established to deviate from the norm, dare to be different but logical and reasonable in their submission. As the course progresses, I expect the directing staff to guide participants to be forthcoming with innovative military options and strategies that can form part of the aggravated solutions to our nation's problems.
"I look forward to receiving implementable pragmatic strategies on how to manage the unintended consequences of burning issues such as the proliferating state of vigilante groups and the quest for access to automatic weapons, how to fan tunes some of our Nigerian army warfare schemes, the likely role the Nigerian army can play in assisting the government navigate economy challenges and so on. Your solutions must be such that they will not constitute tomorrow's problem."
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, AWCN Major General Ishaya Buba Maina, congratulates the participants of course 8 having been successful in the screening process and found worthy by Armed Forces of Nigeria and their respective countries to attend the course.
"I must see that this college prides itself as a centre of excellence, acknowledged locally and internationally as an institution with high proficiency in the delivery of professional military education. This is evident in the feedbacks received on our alumni who have continued to record impressive performances in the field. We are therefore confident that participants of Course 8 will continue in this proud tradition and even exceed the achievements of previous courses.
Major General Maina reminded participants of course 8/2024 that the dynamics of contemporary operating environment places premium on operational level leaders will requisite expertise in military decision making and strategic thinking. "Take notes that your participation in this course is coming against the backdrop of myriad of security challenges. In our dear nation, the sub region, and insub-region the world. Accordingly, the requirement for highly skilled and motivated operational level leaders capable of performing optimally in joint environment."he said
SpyeTV News reports that there was an inaugural lecture "Military Leadership in a Volatile and Complex Operating Environment" which was delivered by the Former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lt General Tu kur Buratai (Retd) the topic is consolidated and apt with the current reality in Nigeria.