According to Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Nigerian Army’s operational achievements depend on its exceptional training and command of fundamental combat skills.
Shaibu gave the speech on Friday in Abuja during the opening of Army War College Nigeria’s (AWCN) Course 10/2026.
He referred to the establishment as the army’s leading operational-level instructional center.
According to him, the institution prepares officers to convert military and national goals into coordinated operational plans in joint and multi-agency settings.
He claims that the AWCN has made significant strides in curriculum creation, research, innovation, and infrastructure since its founding in 2017 and has developed into a center of excellence in operational art, strategy, and national security studies.
According to Ibrahim Babangida, the previous head of state, “no magic trick has been found for the effective performance of our roles as an Army other than excellent training and the acquisition of vital military skills,” according to Shaibu’s advertisements.
The COAS advised the participants to adopt a forward-thinking mindset, make use of the College’s academic and experiential learning resources, and get ready for senior roles in intricate operating rooms.
He underlined that the training supported his Command Philosophy, which calls for a professional, flexible, combat-ready, and resilient force that can successfully carry out its constitutional obligations.
Shaibu emphasized the value of adaptable leadership and urged officers to question presumptions, extend their strategic perspectives, and enhance their knowledge of innovation, leadership, and combat in order to meet changing security challenges.
Maj.-Gen. Umar Alkali, the Commandant of AWCN, had earlier called the inauguration a significant turning point in the officers’ careers.
He clarified that the eight-module training, which combines senior commanders from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and other allied countries, creates leaders who are quick-thinking and decisive and prepared for high-stress situations.
85 Nigerian Army officers, two from each of the Nigerian Air Force and Navy, and allied officers from Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, and Cameroon make up Course 10/2026.
The first lecture, “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defence,” was also given during the ceremony by retired Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, a former Chief of Defence Staff.
