Defence Minister tasks military officers on innovation, threat anticipation

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), has urged graduating military officers to strengthen their capacity to anticipate security threats, identify vulnerabilities and adapt faster than those seeking to undermine Nigeria’s national security.

Musa gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of the Army War College Nigeria Course 10/2026 in Abuja, where he stressed the need for Nigeria to develop indigenous defence capabilities while strengthening cooperation with reliable international partners.

He said the country’s security strategy must go beyond responding to threats after they emerge, adding that military leaders must be equipped to anticipate risks and make sound decisions under pressure.

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According to him, “The task before you, therefore, is not simply to respond to threats after they emerge. We must strengthen our ability to anticipate risks, identify vulnerabilities, and adapt more quickly than those who seek to undermine our national security.

“I believe this college has imparted these skills to you. Today’s commanders and leaders must combine professional competence with intellectual curiosity and have the courage to make difficult decisions under pressure.

“At the forefront of our strategic vision, we are making efforts to develop indigenous defence capabilities in various areas while strengthening cooperation with reliable international partners. Our long-term security architecture cannot rest solely on foreign technologies.”

The minister said Nigeria was progressively building the capacity to understand, maintain, adapt and produce systems tailored to its operational needs.

He said achieving this objective required purposeful collaboration among the Armed Forces, universities, research institutions, defence industries and Nigerian innovators.

Musa added that military institutions must develop capabilities in emerging areas of warfare, including unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and data analytics, to improve operational effectiveness.

According to him, “Our institutions must build capacity in areas relevant to hybrid warfare, such as unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and data analytics, to enhance operational effectiveness. As current and future operational and strategic leaders, you have a direct role to play in this process.

“Innovation is not the exclusive responsibility of engineers, scientists or procurement specialists. Commanders are often best placed to identify operational gaps, articulate problems clearly and work towards developing solutions.”

He said the college’s success would ultimately be measured not by the certificates awarded to its graduates but by the quality of their judgement, leadership and performance in the field.

Speaking earlier, the Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria, Major General Umar Alkali, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to producing competent military leaders capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

Alkali said the 99 participants of Course 10/2026 had completed 37 weeks of intensive professional military education.

He described the participation of the first female officers and the highest number of allied participants since the college’s establishment as significant milestones recorded by the course.

The commandant also highlighted indigenous technological innovation and inter-agency cooperation as essential to improving military effectiveness, urging the graduands to uphold professionalism, integrity and sound judgement in advancing Nigeria’s national security objectives.

Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of fellowship awards to the 99 graduands by the Minister of Defence, alongside certificates and other awards recognising their achievements.

A wounded officer among the graduands received a special souvenir and a token of ₦5 million in recognition of his courage, while the Chief of Army Staff presented merit awards to deserving participants.

The graduands were also inducted into the Alumni Association of the Army War College Nigeria (AAAWCN) by the association’s president, Brigadier General O.A. Ogunleye (retd.).

The ceremony also featured the unveiling and launch of the college’s journal, magazine, and books, the presentation of awards to distinguished eminent fellows, and the presentation of souvenirs to the special guest of honour and the Minister of Defence.