Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu has called for significantly enhanced and battle-hardened training programs for cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to better prepare them for contemporary security realities.
Meeting with NDA Commandant
The army chief made this crucial declaration during his meeting with the Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. During their discussions, Shaibu emphasized the urgent need to transform military education to match evolving battlefield demands.
"Intensify cadet training driven by purposeful leadership, discipline, character, courage and strategic thinking to bridge gaps in military operations," Shaibu directed the commandant during their strategic meeting.
Comprehensive Training Reforms
The COAS outlined several critical areas requiring immediate attention, stressing the importance of strengthening research centers, particularly the NDA Department of Military Science. He described this as a strategic step toward boosting the National Defence Industry and enhancing indigenous capacity for military innovation and self-reliance.
A robust research framework would provide the intellectual backbone required for a modern, responsive and technologically advanced fighting force, according to the army chief's vision.
Shaibu further advocated for a complete curriculum overhaul that reflects current security challenges, with specific emphasis on night training, physical fitness, artificial intelligence, and other emerging warfare domains. These measures are designed to ensure that young officers are fully prepared for modern battlefield realities.
Command Philosophy Implementation
The proposed reforms align directly with Shaibu's Command Philosophy: "To Advance the Transformation of 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 Environment."
The COAS pledged "full support" to the commandant in achieving these objectives, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring that the Nigerian Defence Academy produces officers who are strategically sound, operationally competent, and fully prepared to meet the nation's evolving security demands.
NDA Commandant's Response
In his response, Maj.-Gen. Olatoye solicited sustained support to effectively realize the vision and mission of producing competent, disciplined, and professional officers capable of safeguarding Nigeria's security interests. The commandant assured that he would build on the legacies and structures established by his predecessors.
Olatoye congratulated the COAS on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He expressed profound gratitude to military leadership for the confidence reposed in him to lead the nation's premier military training institution, describing the NDA as the "training factory" for future armed forces officers.
Related Military Developments
In related military news, Commanders of the Combat Service Support (CSS) Corps of the Nigerian Army have commenced a four-day operational visit to Headquarters Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK). This initiative forms part of sustained efforts to improve operational effectiveness and combat readiness of troops through strengthened logistics and medical support.
The visiting team comprises Commander Corps of Supply and Transport (CCST), Maj.-Gen. Nansak Shagaya; Corps Commander Ordnance (CCO), Maj.-Gen. Abdullahi Ibrahim; Commander Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (CC EME), Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Adereti; and Commander Corps of Medical (CC Medical), Brig.-Gen. Innocent Enwuchola.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Maj.-Gen. Shagaya explained that the purpose of the visit was to conduct an operational logistics assessment across the North East theatre to evaluate current capacity to sustain ongoing and future operations.
