The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed that superior training and the mastery of essential military skills are the fundamental drivers of outstanding performance within the Nigerian Army.
Speaking on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the inauguration of Course 10/2026 at the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), General Shaibu characterized the institution as the Army’s premier center for operational-level education. He emphasized the college’s role in bridging the gap between tactical actions and strategic military objectives.
Bridging the Strategic Gap
According to the COAS, the AWCN is designed to equip high-level officers with the capacity to synchronize national objectives into actionable operational plans, particularly within joint and multi-agency environments.
”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,” Shaibu stated, citing former Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to underscore his point.
He further noted that since its inception in 2017, the college has evolved into a hub for military strategy and national security studies. He urged the new participants to adopt progressive thinking to sharpen their professional capabilities against evolving asymmetric threats.
Command Philosophy and Leadership
The training, according to General Shaibu, aligns with his broader Command Philosophy: transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force. He challenged the officers to:
- Leverage the college’s academic and experiential platforms.
- Question conventional assumptions.
- Deepen their understanding of leadership in volatile security landscapes.
Course Composition and Regional Impact
Earlier in the ceremony, the Commandant of the AWCN, Major General Umaru Alkali, described the course as a “defining milestone” for the officers. He noted that the curriculum is specifically structured to produce agile and decisive leaders.
The 2026 cohort reflects a significant regional footprint, consisting of:
- 85 Senior Officers from the Nigerian Army.
- 2 Officers each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.
- International Participants from Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ghana, and South Africa.
The inclusion of international officers highlights the Nigerian Army’s ongoing role in fostering regional peace and stability.
Inaugural Lecture
The event concluded with an inaugural lecture titled “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defence,” delivered by the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Rtd).