The Nigerian Army is relying on officers trained in strategic leadership to help manage its expanded structure, with 43 graduates posted to formations including the newly created divisions.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, gave the charge on Friday in Abuja at the graduation of participants in the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 4/2025.
The course, organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), was designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities through training in leadership, strategy and national security.
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Shaibu said most of the graduates had already received their postings and were expected to use their training in their new assignments.
“Most of the postings have been released, and they have been posted to various formations, including the newly created divisions.
“It is expected that they will bring added value to the running of those divisions and do their jobs properly,” he said.
Army expands from eight to 12 divisions
The Army has expanded its force structure from eight divisions to 12, alongside the creation of additional formations and units.
Shaibu said the change requires more than manpower and equipment. He said the Army also needs officers who can provide effective leadership, sound staff work and strategic direction.
He said the trained officers would serve in different areas, including command, staff, policy, training and administration.
The COAS said their training should improve planning, decision-making and institutional performance across the service.
He also pointed to the range of security problems facing the country. These include terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats and information warfare.
Shaibu said officers must be able to consider these challenges beyond immediate battlefield needs.
He charged them to apply knowledge from the 11-month course in developing responses that combine military action with non-military approaches to national security.
The COAS also told the graduates to keep reading and researching, question assumptions and adapt to new security challenges.
He said their future work should show the value of the training investment made in them.
The course was aimed particularly at improving the proficiency of Lieutenant Colonels of the Direct Regular Commission and preparing them for higher responsibilities.
Shaibu said graduates had gained the ability to advise commanders professionally or perform their duties properly when placed in command.
Course links military experience with higher education
The Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. James Myam, said the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course is one of the Centre’s flagship programmes.
He said it provides selected officers with high-level professional and academic education.
The programme is conducted with the Postgraduate School of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Myam said the partnership allows participants to examine Nigeria’s security challenges and develop strategic knowledge and skills to address them.
He said Army Headquarters identified a training gap that led to the creation of the programme. Its structure covers connected areas of leadership, strategy and national security.
Successful participants receive a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Strategic Studies through the Nigerian Defence Academy and qualify for NARC fellowship.
The Director of Human Resources Development at NARC, Brig.-Gen. John Majebi, said the course was designed to build the capacity and competence of senior officers.
He said it also helps officers apply leadership skills in strategic settings by giving them relevant knowledge while drawing on their operational experience.
The 11-month programme covered leadership and management, policy and strategy, research methodology, psychology, national security and defence economy. Other areas included entrepreneurship, peace support operations and logistics planning.
The 43 graduates comprised one Brigadier-General, 31 Colonels and 11 Lieutenant-Colonels. They received Master’s Degrees in Leadership and Strategic Studies as well as a Fellowship in Leadership and Strategic Studies.
For the newly created Army divisions, the graduates now have their training put to use as part of their new assignments.
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