Army Chief Urges Strategic Leadership Graduates to Add Value to New Divisions

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has charged officers trained in strategic leadership to apply their skills and experience to strengthen the newly created divisions of the Nigerian Army.

Shaibu gave the charge Friday in Abuja at the graduation ceremony of 43 participants of the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course 4/2025, organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.

He said the 11-month programme was designed to improve the proficiency of officers, particularly Lieutenant Colonels of the Direct Regular Commission, and prepare them for higher responsibilities.

The Army chief said most of the graduates had been posted to various formations, including the newly created divisions, and urged them to bring added value to their assignments.

The Nigerian Army recently expanded its force structure from eight to 12 divisions, alongside the creation of additional formations and units.

Shaibu said the expansion required not only more personnel and equipment but also officers with the intellectual capacity to provide effective leadership, sound staff work and strategic direction.

He urged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to address contemporary security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, transnational organised crime, cyber threats and information warfare.

Shaibu also encouraged the officers to continue reading, researching, questioning assumptions and adapting to emerging security threats.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, retired Maj. Gen. James Myam, said the Leadership and Strategic Studies Course was one of the centre’s flagship programmes for providing professional and academic education to selected officers.

He said the course was conducted in partnership with the Postgraduate School of the Nigerian Defence Academy and was designed to help participants examine Nigeria’s security challenges and develop strategic responses.

The 43 graduands comprised one Brigadier-General, 31 Colonels and 11 Lieutenant-Colonels. They were awarded Master’s Degrees in Leadership and Strategic Studies and a Fellowship in Leadership and Strategic Studies.