By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) has challenged the graduands of the Army War college of Nigerian (AWCN) to use the knowledge acquired to contend with the current security challenges in the country.
The minister made this known during the graduation ceremony of participants of Army War College of Nigeria (AWCN) in Abuja.
He said, Nigeria was going through a trying time hence the need for training and retraining of officers to have new and fresh ideas that could better enhance performance.
Gen. Magashi acknowledged the critical role the AWCN has played so far both nationally and in the continent noting that the college has produced so far over 100 participants under its few years of existence.
“Since its inception 3 years ago the college has trained over 100 participants drawn from arm forces of Nigeria as well as security and paramilitary agencies .
“It is gratifying note that the AWCO has played host international officers from across the continent that this course has 2 participant’s which you have seen physically now, from Congo and that you Republic of Cameroon.
“This is a testimony that a spirit of brotherhood that our military institutions has promoted over the years”. He explained.
The minister further admonished the participants to imbibe professionalism, learning and purposeful leadership where ever they find themselves
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant Army War College of Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Charles Ofoche has urged the participants to imbibe the leadership threats that are enduring devoid of stereotypes.
According to him, the the war course was conceptualized to bridge the training gap between the strategic and tactical levels warfare.
He further said, “the course curriculum integrates dynamics of our ever changing milieu with particular emphasis to the Nigerian environment.
Gen . Ofoche while congratulating the graduands said the complex nature of the security environment is so ambiguous hence the need to have fresh ideas and cognitive capacity to handle them.
“The current security environment around the world can be described as volatile, complex and it is a very changing time will require new thinking tools as well as a cognitive ability to articulate measures to address these threats.
“This underscores the importance of critical thinking, systems thinking and creative thinking in professional military education which is offered at the college.
“This is an indispensable and valuable resource to proffering solutions to the numerous global security challenges.
To the graduands, having been found worthy in both character and learning, let me state that the tasks ahead are enormous and expectations are very high.
“You have benefited from the war course curriculum which was painstakingly designed to equip you with requisite skills and knowledge to function effectively at the military strategic and operational levels”. He stressed.
The Commandant while commending the visionary leadership of COAS enjoined the participants to match the knowledge they had acquired with their performances on the field, adding that government had invested heavily in their military education.
66 participants were graduated drawn from military, paramilitary, among whom were two allied participants from Cameroon and Congo.
High point of events were the presentation of certificate to the graduands as well as award to deserving ones.
The event was attend by top senior military officers, traditional rulers, members of the national assembly, spouses and family members of the graduands, amongst others
