The Chief of Staff to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, is advocating the review of the National Defence Doctrine in the face of the changing nature and patterns of the current security threats confronting the country.
Professor Gambari made the call while presenting a lecture at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, 20th Convocation Lecture in honour of the graduating cadets of 69 Regular Course (RC) and postgraduate students of the Academy.
The event was held at the Academy in Kaduna State.
Presenting a paper titled: National Security, Defence and Diplomacy in a Changing World Order, Professor Gambari stated that it has become imperative to look at the components of the nation’s security doctrines and infrastructure.
This he said “is to determine the right mix of conventional military operations and capacity for cyber warfare needed to match the current security challenges.
“As with our internal security services, the times also call for constant investment in the comprehensive review of the curricula for the training of the national defence forces to imbue them with strategic planning, foresight, and futures capability that ensure they are as operationally proficient in reacting to threats as they are efficient in anticipating patterns and containing challenges.”
During the lecture, Professor Gambari did foray into the factors that have affected world diplomacy and the effects of the changing world powers on countries, as well as some other conditions such as climate change and the changing social demographics in different parts of the world, which have all culminated into the current global security threats.
He noted that for Nigeria in particular, the trans-border migration into the nation from various West African countries, and the burgeoning youth population throw up very unique security and social challenges.
Professor Gambari advocated for a comprehensive approach to defence, security and diplomacy which combines the internal security of the state with the security of the people within an integrated human security paradigm.
He emphasised that the overriding objective of any proactive national defence, security and diplomatic thrust should be the safety, welfare, dignity and prosperity of united Nigerian people.
“Such issues as the health, food and housing security of the generality of the people contribute to and are as important as the measures that we take to police our communities, roll back criminality, and maintain domestic peace and harmony,” he noted.
He commended NDA for its enormous contributions to national security and the Nigerian state, stressing that the NDA has entrenched a culture of excellence since its establishment in 1964.
This he said embodies and symbolises Nigeria’s unceasing quest for nationhood and the protection of her sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Professor Gambari praised the NDA for its consistency in training young men and women fully equipped with the requisite knowledge, aptitudes, and skills required of a modern officer corps.
While addressing the gathering at the event, the Commandant NDA, Major General Ibrahim Yusuf, expressed gratitude to the guest lecturer, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, for recognising the critical role NDA plays in producing generations of professionals dedicated to prioritising their desires for the service of the nation.
General Yusuf extolled the academic and political accomplishments of the guest speaker, saying the Chief of Staff to the President is a fine example of the academic traditions NDA is renowned for.
He noted that Prof Gambari is an internationally-renowned scholar, diplomat, public administrator, and front-line global affairs specialist who has devoted his life to serving the fatherland and advising its foreign policy-makers for several decades.
General Yusuf added that the lecture “National Security, Defence, and Diplomacy in a Changing World Order” is a stimulating intervention in this uncertain period of global security threats.
The Commandant used the occasion to also advise the graduating cadets of 69 RC and the postgraduate students to see the event not merely as an opportunity to celebrate their capability to excel in a challenging atmosphere but as a pointer to life as they pursue their careers and specializations in which they have been trained at NDA.
The 20th Convocation Lecture in honour of 69 RC and postgraduate students forms part of a string of activities that would culminate in the passing out parade of 69 RC Cadets on 6 October 2022, which is expected to have in attendance the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari as the Reviewing Officer.
The convocation lecture was attended by senior military and paramilitary officers, members of the academia, and members of 69 RC and NDA postgraduate students, among others.
Mercy Chukwudibere
