Mariam Abeeb
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu has charged senior Nigerian Army officers to develop modern leadership skills capable of addressing complex security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry and cyber threats.
The Chief of Army Staff gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of participants of the 4/2025 Leadership and Strategic Studies Course, following 11 months of intensive professional military education at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
He said the changing nature of warfare required military leaders to combine sound judgment, strategic thinking and professional competence in responding to emerging threats.
According to him, contemporary security challenges are no longer limited to conventional battlefields, as terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats and information warfare continue to create complex operational environments.
He urged the officers to apply both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in tackling security challenges, stressing the need to understand the political, social and economic dimensions of modern conflicts.
The Chief of Army Staff said the course was designed to strengthen the officers’ capacity in leadership, strategy, research and policy analysis, enabling them to provide effective professional advice and make informed decisions in higher command, staff and administrative appointments.
He charged the graduates to translate the knowledge acquired into measurable results, particularly as the Nigerian Army expands its force structure from eight to 12 divisions.
The officers were also urged to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, integrity, empathy and the courage to provide objective professional advice, even when such advice challenges prevailing assumptions.
The Chief of Army Staff emphasised the importance of continuous learning and research, noting that strategies that addressed past security challenges might not be sufficient to deal with emerging threats.
He said effective military leadership must be measured not only by rank or position but also by the ability of officers to improve their subordinates, formations and the institution.
The course, organised with the support of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command, exposed participants to theoretical instruction, practical case studies and professional experience-sharing.
The graduates were congratulated on completing the programme and reminded that their professional development placed on them the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the transformation of the Nigerian Army and the protection of national security.
In his welcome address, the Director General of NARC , Major General James Myam(Rtd) urged the graduates to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to address complex security and organisational challenges within their respective formations and units.
He stressed that the true measure of the officers’ success would be their ability to translate academic knowledge into tangible outcomes.
He challenged them to demonstrate critical thinking, question assumptions, maintain high professional standards and adopt innovative approaches in dealing with complex problems.
The ceremony also highlighted the importance of leadership rooted in discipline, service and lasting impact, rather than rank or title.
The DG expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff and members of the Board of Trustees for their guidance, resources and continued support for the Centre.
He further commended the leadership and faculty of the Nigerian Defence Academy, including the Commandant, Academy Provost, Dean of the Graduate School, faculty members and facilitators, for their collaboration in delivering the programme.
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