The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has commended the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Defence Headquarters in organizing the 2025 Defence Training Conference. This conference aims to equip service personnel with the necessary skills and adaptability to excel in today's complex battlespace
Abubakar, the Special Guest of Honour, noted that the theme "Performance-Oriented Training and Trends in the Contemporary Operating Environment" is apt and timely, considering Nigeria's current security landscape and it resonates deeply with the national security imperatives of our time.
"We are in an era where threats to national security are no longer confined to traditional state actors or conventional battlefield engagements.
"Instead, we are increasingly faced with asymmetric threats, hybrid warfare, cyber aggression, terrorism, insurgency, transnational organized crime and other non-traditional challenges that demand more than just tactical responses.
The Defence minister noted that this is precisely where "performance-oriented training" becomes imperative. It moves us beyond mere theoretical knowledge and focuses on developing tangible skills and competencies that directly translate to operational effectiveness.
It demands that our training curricula are constantly reviewed and updated, incorporating lessons learnt from ongoing operations, leveraging modern technologies, and adopting innovative methodologies.
He urged all of you to actively participate in the discussions and contribute valuable insights that will help shape a training paradigm that is suitable for its intended purpose.
He said the FG acknowledged the value of strategic partnerships, as the Armed Forces of Nigeria continue to benefit from bilateral and multilateral training collaborations with regional and global allies. These engagements expose our personnel to best practices, operational diversity and advanced technologies.
He stated here that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, remains committed to supporting the Armed Forces.
"As part of our strategic vision, we are working closely with the Services to renew and enhance our defence training architecture, with a clear focus on: aligning training programmes with strategic defence objectives, upgrading facilities and infrastructure in our training institutions, and expanding partnership with regional and international military academies and think tanks; Promoting training exercise that reflect both local and global threats and Encouraging innovation in training methodology, doctrine development and simulation tools.
The Defence minister also urged planners and participants at the conference to explore some critical questions in their deliberations: How can we create a defence training model that is modular, adaptive and scalable?. What lessons can be drawn from recent domestic and international operations to refine our training practices? How can we better leverage simulation technology and war-gaming in our training institutions to reality of current challenges? And how can we use training to deepen support in civil-military relations for enhanced nation's security towards supporting national development?
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Gwabin Musa noted that the annual conference aims to standardise and enhance training mandates across the services.
"Our vision also aims to create a unified training system that is adaptable, technology-driven, economical, and mission-focused. This entails expanding joint training programs and doctrinal reviews as well as improving simulation and wargaming, among other innovations, that would enhance professionalism and interoperability.
"Furthermore, this training will enhance collaboration, cooperation and jointness among the Services and other relevant security agencies.
"Looking at our contemporary operating environment, it is evident that the threats we face are increasingly complex, asymmetrical, and technologically driven. These threats range from the persistent scourge of insurgency and terrorism to the rise of cyber warfare, hybrid threats, and the proliferation of advanced weaponry.
"We are also witnessing a rapid integration of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced surveillance technologies, and sophisticated electronic warfare capabilities into modern conflict. These trends necessitate a fundamental shift in how we approach training, ensuring our personnel are not just prepared for yesterday's battles but are agile and adaptive enough to thrive in tomorrow's dynamic environment," he stressed
The Defence Chief pledged that the military must continue to expand and leverage partnerships, especially in areas such as counterterrorism, peacekeeping, maritime security, cyberdefense, and strategic planning.
He assured participants that the Defence Headquarters, in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, is taking proactive steps to institutionalise the outcomes of this conference.
The keynote speaker, the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), retired General Lucky Irabor delivered a strategic lecture on Innovative Training Approaches to Mitigate Emerging Security Challenges in Nigeria: The Nigerian Armed Forces in Perspective".
General Irabor (rtd) pointed out that as Nigeria’s security threats evolve in complexity and scale, the Nigerian Armed Forces must continue to adapt by investing in innovative training methods.
He said these approaches not only bolster combat readiness but also foster professionalism, technological competence, and strategic agility. A security force that trains innovatively is better positioned to protect the sovereignty and stability of the Nigerian state in the face of emerging threats.
He said new strategies are not only improving operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria but are also helping to reposition the Armed Forces as a responsive and forward-thinking institution.
The contemporary security environment in Nigeria is characterized by, Asymmetric warfare posed by insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, Cyber threats, which are becoming more prevalent with Nigeria’s growing digital infrastructure, urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations, particularly in densely populated areas, cross-border crimes, including arms smuggling and human trafficking and, environmental and resource conflicts, especially in areas affected by climate change and desertification.
To respond to these challenges, the Nigerian Armed Forces are adopting the following innovative training approaches: Simulation-Based Training, Joint and Inter-Agency Exercises, Cybersecurity and Intelligence Training, Counter-Insurgency Academies: Establishment of training centers like the Nigerian Army’s Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency School in Jaji, focused on unconventional warfare tactics, Use of Drones and AI: Training in drone technology and artificial intelligence to enhance reconnaissance, surveillance, and real-time decision-making, Language and Cultural Sensitization: Troops are being trained in local languages and cultural practices to improve civil-military relations and intelligence gathering in local communities and, Psychological and Resilience Training: Programs aimed at enhancing soldiers’ mental toughness, stress management, and ethical conduct in combat zones.
SpyeTV News reports that the inaugural Defence Training Conference of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is ideal, given the current security challenges in the country that require personnel to be resilient, cohesive, and innovative and it is a critical part of military shared commitment to building a professional and combat-ready force that is well equipped to navigate the evolving operational landscape.
