The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), OFR, has called on newly graduated participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) to deepen inter-agency collaboration and uphold the highest ethical standards in national intelligence operations.
Speaking as Chairman of the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, the Minister conveyed the congratulations and warm regards of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending NISS for its consistent contribution to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
General Musa praised the Institute for its role in training security and intelligence professionals from Nigeria and other African nations, noting that the successful completion of the rigorous course demonstrates the commitment and resilience of the participants.
He reminded the graduands that they are stepping into a world defined by volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous threats, including cyber-attacks, asymmetric warfare, hybrid conflicts, and transnational crime. In this environment, he said, intelligence management has become the cornerstone of national strategy.
The Minister emphasized the need for synergy among security agencies, stressing that “siloed operations are a luxury Nigeria can no longer afford.” He stated that the Armed Forces rely heavily on timely and actionable intelligence, and the skills acquired by the graduands will further enhance national defence operations.
General Musa urged the participants to remain guardians of integrity and professionalism, speaking truth to power and placing national interest above personal or institutional biases. He encouraged them to build on the networks developed during the course to strengthen operational cooperation across agencies.
He lauded the Commandant and staff of NISS for their dedication to building executive capacity within the security sector and congratulated the families and organizations of the graduands for supporting their journey.
Addressing the graduands directly, General Musa charged them to become change agents, innovators, and strategic thinkers capable of anticipating threats and shaping a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
“This graduation is not an end, but the beginning of a more demanding chapter of service,” he said. “The nation expects much from you, and I am confident you are equal to the task.”
The ceremony ended with the Minister’s blessing for the graduands, the Institute, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
