Army Resource Centre Calls for Collaboration among Security Stakeholders

The Director General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General Garba Wahab (Rtd), has identified the need to bring people together from different aspects of the security architecture and interested private organizations to brainstorm on strategic management and policy-making to improve the sector.

General Wahab made this known in Abuja during the Inauguration Ceremony of Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 7/2024.

The course is designed to meet the academic and professional needs of senior members of the Armed Forces and Nigeria from rank of Colonels to Major Generals and their equivalents and also senior executives in security and intelligence organizations, ministries, departments, and agencies of government as well as the private sectors.

He said, “The Centre is taking the participants through the course and how to manage the resources put under them because, at this level, the participants cannot afford not to know how and what to do with whatever is put under their care.”

He noted that if the participants can’t successfully manage the resources assigned to them, they can’t perform their responsibilities optimally.

“It even goes beyond just mere management of those resources, even the human beings under their care must be catered for administratively, that’s why we emphasize administration in the service,” he added.

He stressed that at this level, they are not talking just about administration, it’s about the entire packaging of cutting across everything, and the various personnel from the various agencies must understand themselves, and know their strengths and weaknesses.

He stated that participants of the Strategic Management Policy course with experience find them well and filled with enthusiasm as they embark on this journey of learning and growth in the field of Strategic Management and Policy Studies.

In his remark, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede represented by the Chief of Training Army, Major General Sani Mohammed said the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course 7 was conceived and adopted as part of the Human Capacity Development Management for the center in line with its mandate to provide site-based solutions to defense and security challenges bedeviling the nation.

“It is noteworthy that with the backing of key stakeholders, the Nigerian Army Resource Center has risen to the challenge of its mandate and has consistently conducted strategic management and policy studies courses with the commitment it deserves,” he added.

According to him, the 7th edition of the course conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Defense Academy Postgraduate School is a firm indication that the program has gained traction with other security agencies, as well as the national security architecture.

“It has also become an integral part of the calendar for national security training in the country adding that the positive feedback from the participants and observers of the course is a sign of pride to all of them, particularly at the Army Headquarters,” he said.

The Army Chief noted that the strong collaboration and trust established with reputable institutions and establishments, particularly the Nigerian Defense Academy, in conducting the executive program has been consistently demonstrated by the participation of past graduates in the Nigerian Defense Academy’s Joint Convocation Ceremony.

He emphasized that the Strategic Management and Policy Studies course has five broad thematic areas, which are policy management, entrepreneurship, psychology, and research methodology.

“These are constantly reviewed to meet up with the trends in policy management and national security” adding that such reviews “led to the inclusion of emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and change management capsules, among others, into the strategic management company,” he said.

Earlier, the former Chief of Army Staff and the member Board of Trustees, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau encouraged the participants in Strategic Management and Policy Studies that it is a significant step towards enhancing their knowledge and effectively navigating the complexities of organizational management and decision-making.

According to him, by choosing to embrace their talents in this course, they have shown a strong commitment to their professional development and eagerness to expand their understanding of strategic concepts and policy frameworks.

He said that “the field of Strategic Management and Policy Studies is crucial in the case of rapidly evolving public policy landscape, understanding how to formulate and implement effective strategies, analyze policy implications, and adapt to changing environments are essential skills that will not only benefit them in their current roles but also pave the way for future success and leadership opportunities.”

The Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course is the Nigerian Army Resource Centre’s flagship programme in Human Resource Development aimed at attaining professionalism in the Nigerian Army and the Nation at large.