The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has declared that the Nigerian Army’s ability to achieve operational success depends fundamentally on superior training and mastery of core warfare skills.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu stated this on Friday, February 13, 2026, while inaugurating Course 10/2026 of the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) in Abuja.
He described the AWCN as the Nigerian Army’s premier institution for operational-level education, designed to equip senior officers with the knowledge and skills to translate national and military objectives into coordinated plans within joint, inter-agency, and multi-national environments.
The COAS noted that since its establishment in 2017, the college has evolved into a centre of excellence in operational art, strategy, and national security studies, making significant strides in curriculum development, research, innovation, and infrastructure.
Quoting former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Shaibu emphasised: “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.”
He urged course participants to adopt progressive thinking, fully utilise the college’s academic and experiential learning platforms, and prepare themselves for high-level leadership responsibilities in complex and dynamic operational theatres.
The COAS stressed that the training aligns with his Command Philosophy of building a professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
He highlighted the critical role of adaptive leadership, encouraging officers to challenge conventional assumptions, expand their strategic perspectives, and deepen their understanding of leadership, modern warfare, and innovation in addressing evolving security threats.
Earlier, the Commandant of AWCN, Maj.-Gen. Umar Alkali, described the inauguration as a defining moment in the officers’ professional development.
He explained that Course 10/2026 is structured around eight core modules and brings together senior officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and allied nations to produce agile, decisive leaders equipped for volatile and uncertain security environments.
The course comprises 85 officers from the Nigerian Army, two each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, and allied participants from Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa.
The ceremony also featured the inaugural lecture titled “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defence,” delivered by former Chief of Defence Staff, retired Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
The inauguration underscores the Nigerian Army’s continued focus on professional development, capacity building, and strategic preparedness amid persistent national security challenges.
