President Bola Tinubu has vowed to fully utilize his constitutional powers to continue equipping and empowering the Nigerian military. This commitment was emphasized during the graduation ceremony for Course 32 participants at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja on Friday.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu underscored the critical role of strategic leadership in addressing Nigeria’s complex security and development challenges. He expressed concern over the current state of infrastructure at the NDC’s permanent site in Piwoyi, Abuja, acknowledging that while progress has been made, there is still much work to be done. The President reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to completing ongoing projects and upgrading facilities at the college.
Highlighting the sacrifices made by the Nigerian Armed Forces in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity and ensuring the security of its citizens, Tinubu declared, “Under my watch, members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have made remarkable sacrifices and recorded significant achievements in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and securing the lives and properties of our citizens. I will continue to do everything within my constitutional powers to ensure that the Nigerian military is well-resourced and fit for purpose.”
President Tinubu also expressed gratitude to the graduates of Course 32 for their contributions to his administration’s research on harnessing the mining industry to enhance national security and development. He noted that the government is already implementing the fundamentals of their recommendations.
The President praised the NDC’s unique approach to consolidating knowledge through broad thematic areas, which he said has been instrumental in finding sustainable solutions to security and development issues in Nigeria and beyond.
Tinubu also highlighted some of the achievements of his administration, including the implementation of a new national minimum wage that benefits both civilian workers and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. He pointed out the ongoing efforts to curb crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta, stressing that these actions are crucial for boosting oil and gas production and achieving economic stability.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment that encourages value addition in the mining sector. He mentioned ongoing collaborations with international partners to develop strategies that will harness the sector’s potential for national security and development.
In his address, Tinubu urged the graduates of Course 32 to uphold the values of excellence, courage, patriotism, and integrity as they move forward in their careers. He encouraged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to address the challenges facing Nigeria.
Earlier in the ceremony, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, Commandant of the National Defence College, highlighted the contributions that the 111 graduates will make to Nigeria’s strategic leadership across various sectors. He emphasized the rigorous training and diverse curriculum that the participants underwent, which included modules on strategic decision-making, conflict and war studies, and policy formulation analysis.
The graduates were drawn from various national agencies and institutions, including the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security, and several ministries. The course also included 19 international participants from countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, and Ghana, reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to fostering global cooperation in defense and security.
Dignitaries at the graduation ceremony included Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of State for Defence Bello Muhammed Matawalle, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, the Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and former Delta State Governor Chief James Ibori, among others.
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