The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has inaugurated four projects at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
The projects include the expanded and remodelled RSM Oliver Nzalgana Parade Ground, a newly constructed 500-capacity Ashanti Battalion Cadets’ Mess, the renovated Ribadu Auditorium and the Nigerian Defence Academy Command Centre.
Oluyede said the projects demonstrated the Nigerian Armed Forces’ commitment to strengthening infrastructure, training, welfare and technological capacity.
He commended the Commandant, officers and staff of the academy for their efforts towards infrastructural and human-capacity development aimed at improving the quality of cadet training.
According to him, the projects reflected the academy’s commitment to excellence in training, welfare, cultural heritage and technological advancement.
The CDS said the parade ground represented more than a venue for formations, drills and military exercises, describing it as a symbol of the traditions of discipline, courage and service upon which the military profession was founded.
He said the 500-capacity cadets’ mess would provide an improved environment for cadets’ welfare, professional interaction and the inculcation of discipline and regimentation.
Oluyede also highlighted the importance of the new command centre amid the changing nature of contemporary security challenges and the growing application of technology in defence operations.
He said the Armed Forces must continually adapt to technological advancements, including artificial intelligence and advanced surveillance systems, to enhance situational awareness, timely information processing and responses to emerging threats.
The CDS urged the beneficiaries of the facilities to maintain them responsibly and ensure their proper utilisation to guarantee their longevity.
He also called for accountability, responsible management and continuous improvement in the utilisation of the facilities.
Earlier, the Commandant of the NDA, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, said the projects represented investments in the training, development, welfare and security of cadets and the wider academy community.
Olatoye said the expanded and modernised parade ground would provide an improved environment for ceremonial activities, military drills and other important academy events.
He said the auditorium was renovated following a fire outbreak on July 9, 2026.
The Commandant said the surveillance command and control centre, equipped with artificial intelligence-enabled closed-circuit television, would strengthen the academy’s security architecture and enhance situational awareness.
Olatoye said the academy would continue to create an environment where discipline, character, knowledge, leadership and professional competence could thrive.
