The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has inaugurated Course 10/2026 of the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), charging participants to prioritise combat readiness, strategic thinking and adaptive leadership in addressing Nigeria’s complex security environment.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, 13 February 2026, marked another milestone in the Nigerian Army’s efforts to strengthen operational-level capacity and prepare senior officers for higher command and staff responsibilities.
Describing the Army War College Nigeria as the premier institution for operational-level education in the Service, the COAS noted that the College bridges the gap between tactical execution and strategic direction. He explained that the institution equips selected officers with the knowledge and expertise required to translate national and military objectives into coherent operational plans within joint and multi-agency environments.
Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasised that excellence in training and mastery of core warfighting skills remain the foundation of operational success. He urged participants to fully utilise the College’s robust academic and experiential learning platform, stressing that the course is deliberately structured to prepare them for leadership roles in complex and dynamic theatres of operation.
According to him, the training aligns with his Command Philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency framework.
Against the backdrop of evolving and asymmetric threats, the Army Chief highlighted the importance of strategic foresight, sound administration and innovation. He encouraged participants to challenge conventional assumptions, broaden their operational outlook and develop practical solutions to emerging security challenges.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the Army War College Nigeria, Major General Umaru Alkali, described the inauguration as a defining moment in the officers’ professional journey. He stated that Course 10/2026 is designed to produce agile, informed and decisive leaders capable of thriving in today’s volatile security landscape.
The course comprises 85 senior officers of the Nigerian Army, alongside two officers each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force. It also includes participants from Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ghana and South Africa, reflecting the Nigerian Army’s growing regional influence and commitment to collective security.
The ceremony featured an inaugural lecture titled “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defence,” delivered by former Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin.
The inauguration underscores the Nigerian Army’s sustained commitment to strengthening professional military education as a cornerstone for operational excellence and national defence.
