The Nigerian Army has advanced its strategic command and operational leadership development with the inauguration of Course 10/2026 at the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), positioning senior officers for higher responsibilities within complex joint and multi-agency environments.
Inaugurating the course, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, emphasised that operational-level education remains critical to transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of meeting evolving national security demands.
The COAS charged participants to embrace innovation, deepen strategic thinking, and strengthen indigenous solutions in addressing contemporary security challenges. He noted that the College has continued to consolidate its role as a centre of excellence in operational art, campaign planning, and national security studies since its establishment in 2017.
Lieutenant General Shaibu further underscored the importance of research, intellectual discipline, and joint interoperability, stressing that the Army’s transformation agenda depends on leaders who can operate effectively within multi-agency and multinational frameworks.
Also speaking, the Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria, Major General Umar Alkali, described the course as a structured platform for bridging the gap between tactical execution and strategic decision-making.
He explained that the seven-month programme is delivered across eight modules designed to enhance analytical competence, leadership capacity, and operational clarity.
Providing additional details on the course, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Brigadier General Akiojo, disclosed that Course 10/2026 comprises 100 participants, including 85 officers of the Nigerian Army, two officers each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, and allied officers from Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa.
He noted that the course includes the College’s first female participant, an allied officer from the Republic of South Africa, reflecting the institution’s expanding multinational engagement and inclusivity.
Participants will undertake lectures, seminars, research tasks, theatre visits, and a joint operations planning exercise conducted in collaboration with the Naval and Air War Colleges and the National Defence College under the guidance of Defence Headquarters.
The course is scheduled to conclude in October, with participants expected to graduate as operational-level leaders prepared to contribute decisively to Nigeria’s defence architecture and broader national security objectives.