Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), officially started the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 8/2024 on Friday, February 16, 2024. He did this at the Tukur Yusufu Buratai Hall of the College.
He spoke to the participants, saying that training is very important for the success of military operations.
He mentioned that a country that invests well in training its troops will spend less on fighting wars.
The COAS emphasized the significance of training in the Nigerian Army (NA) to fulfill its duties as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution.
He shared his Command Philosophy, which focuses on transforming the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, well-equipped, and highly motivated force to fulfill its constitutional duties within a joint environment.
Even though Nigeria faces many security challenges, the COAS assured that the NA remains committed to prioritizing training to produce competent officers and soldiers who can effectively deal with these challenges.
He explained that the AWCN was set up to address training gaps between tactical and strategic levels of warfare.
He urged the participants to be brave and creative in proposing military strategies that can enhance troops’ effectiveness and overcome current security challenges.
He reminded them that they were chosen based on their skills, career potential, and ability to undertake the course.
The inaugural lecture titled “Military Leadership in a Volatile and Complex Operating Environment” was delivered by Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), a former COAS and former Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. The COAS appreciated him for his insightful lecture.
Major General Ishaya Maina, the Commandant of AWCN, welcomed everyone and highlighted the institution’s reputation for excellence in providing professional military education.
He mentioned that feedback from alumni shows their impressive performance in the field.
The Commandant stressed the importance of operational level leaders with expertise in military decision-making and strategic thinking due to the complexities of the contemporary security environment.
The AWCN Course 8/2024 consists of 66 participants from the Nigerian Army, 2 from the Nigerian Navy, 2 from the Nigerian Air Force, and 7 from an allied nation.
