Participants of Army War College of Nigeria (AWCN) Course 9/2025, have been urged to go beyond identifying security challenges but proffer practical and innovative solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s contemporary threats.
The Commandant, AWCN, Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali, charged the participants during the College’s Theater Operations Visit to 1 and 6 Divisions of the Nigerian Army.
Major General Alkali emphasized that the future of Nigeria’s security architecture rests on the ability of emerging strategic leaders to think critically, innovate, and apply lessons learned from both the classroom and the field.
He noted that while analyzing problems is important, the nation requires leaders who can also develop actionable strategies to overcome them.
“The Nigerian Army and indeed our nation need leaders who can think outside the box, leaders who will not just identify the problems but provide workable solutions. As participants of the Army War College, you must rise to this challenge and contribute to shaping the future of our security,” the Commandant stated.
As part of the visit, participants were divided into two teams. Team One, led by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Brigadier General OI Odigie, visited 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna.
While Team Two, under the leadership of Brigadier General AO Balogun, visited 6 Division Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt. Both teams engaged directly with field commanders, component commanders, and troops, gaining valuable insights into ongoing operations across their respective areas of responsibility.
The Theater Operations Visit is a key component of the College’s curriculum designed to bridge theory with practice. The visit provided participants the opportunity to interact with division commanders, assess ongoing operations, and draw lessons for operational level decision making.
It also affords participants firsthand exposure to joint and multi-agency operations, enhances their appreciation of operational realities, and sharpens their capacity to devise holistic approaches to Nigeria’s complex security environment.
With the conclusion of the Theater Operations Visit, AWCN continues to underscore its mandate of preparing senior officers for higher responsibilities in operational and strategic leadership within the Armed Forces of Nigeria and beyond.
About The Author
