The Commandant, National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, says the college has graduated 2,750 participants comprising 2,466 from Nigeria and 296 officers from other countries in 31 years.
Olotu said this at the inauguration of NDC Course 32 with the inaugural lecture titled, “strengthening National Unity for Security and Development in Nigeria,” on Friday in Abuja.
The commandant said the college had since its establishment in 1992 trained several senior military officers, police and other security agencies and strategic ministries of government including senior military officers from friendly nations.
He said the main objective of the college was to prepare the participants for optimal performance and appointment at the strategic level of governance.
Olotu said the course 32 had a total of 108 participants comprising 68 senior officers from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, six participants from Nigeria Police Force and 19 senior officers from other security agencies.
Others were from strategic ministries, departments and agencies of government.
He added that the course also had 15 international participants from 15 friendly countries which included the Republic of Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cote d’ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Germany, India, Liberia and Mali.
Others are: Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Welcoming the participants, Olotu urged them to use the opportunity to prepare themselves for higher responsibilities in their various services and countries and also establish a strong bond of friendship with their colleagues.
According to him, there is no doubt that democracy is gradually but steadily being entrenched in Nigeria as it is in most parts of the world and to a large extent, Nigerians are witnessing the dividends of democracy.
“However, sectorial differences still prevail, thereby hindering the government’s efforts towards national security and development.
“Without national cohesion, issues of security and development will always be undermined and this will pose a serious challenge for government at all levels.
“This underscores, the consideration of the topics selected for this all important inaugural lecture, which is Strengthening National Unity for Security and Development in Nigeria,” he said.
The commandant said the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies of the college offered other professional training programmes beyond the strategic courses offered by the college.
He said the participants would be expected to tackle the variety of conceptual, hypothetical, real and simulated strategic level challenges for which there were no template solutions.
The essence, according to him, is for them to bring their ingenuity to bear, adding that they would be required to engage in extensive study and critical thinking to proffer strategies for tackling contemporary issues.
“Moreover, you will be required to enter international policies, strategies, operations, resource management and subset criteria on a variety of related subjects.
“These are encapsulated in various packages prepared for you, which are divided into nine modules.
“Noteworthy is the fact that, in keeping with the complex and multidimensional nature of security and defense imperative, participants will be groomed in several thematic areas such as the state and socio-political environment.
“These are aimed at developing the art and science of statecraft and strategy for effective national security and defense management,” he added.
