The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has challenged graduates of Army War College Nigeria Course 10/2026 to translate their strategic education into measurable operational results, stressing the need for stronger leadership, sound operational decisions and improved responses to evolving security threats.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on 16 October 2026 at the Army War College Nigeria, General Musa urged officers to anticipate emerging risks and intensify efforts against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities.
He maintained that Nigeria’s prolonged security campaign must move towards a decisive conclusion, citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent security briefing and his determination to end the campaign.
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The Defence Minister also called on security forces to support peaceful elections, prevent intimidation and intensify operations against criminal strongholds. He stressed the need to clear insurgent, terrorist and bandit camps before December, underscoring the urgency of translating operational plans into tangible security gains.
On military leadership and career progression, General Musa maintained that advancement should reflect demonstrated commitment, professional competence and hard work.
He cited the career progression of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, whose experience across battalion, brigade and sector commands in the North-East preceded his appointment as Army Chief.
The Defence Minister further emphasised that modern warfare requires technological adaptability, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence, drones and unmanned aerial systems, cyber capabilities and data analytics.
He noted that the widening cost imbalance between inexpensive drones and costly interception systems reinforced the need for innovation and more adaptable defence solutions.
General Musa called for stronger collaboration among the Armed Forces, universities, research institutions, the defence industry and local innovators to expand indigenous defence production and reduce dependence on foreign technology.
The Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria, Major General Umar Alkali, outlined the institution’s professional mandate and the milestones achieved by Course 10.
He described the college as a platform for developing officers’ capacity to assess complex security challenges, formulate strategies and prepare for higher command and staff responsibilities.
The Deputy Commandant, Brigadier General Motoshore Akin-Ojo, provided further details of the course structure, highlighting its coverage of national security and defence organisation, inter-agency cooperation, the theory of war and strategy, leadership, military history, operational art and campaigning, and peace support operations.
These areas were designed to broaden participants’ understanding of the strategic and operational responsibilities associated with senior military appointments.
A total of 99 participants completed the 37-week course, comprising 84 Nigerian Army officers, two Nigerian Navy officers, two Nigerian Air Force officers and 11 allied participants from Botswana, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and South Africa.
Course 10 also recorded the first female participants in the college’s history from the Republic of South Africa, alongside its highest number of allied participants and largest graduating cohort.
Outstanding participants received awards in recognition of their performance.
The graduation underscored the college’s role in preparing officers for complex command responsibilities, with the emphasis on applying strategic knowledge through sound leadership, technological adaptation and operational decisions that deliver measurable improvements in Nigeria’s security environment.
