... Holds Graduation Dinner and Award Night in Abuja
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has charged participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 34 to apply the knowledge acquired during their 11-month strategic training to provide purposeful, ethical and forward-looking leadership in an increasingly complex security environment.
Vice Admiral Abbas gave the charge as the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation dinner and award night of NDC Course 34, where he described the completion of the programme as both a major professional milestone and the beginning of greater responsibility for the participants.
He urged the graduates to remain intellectually curious, morally courageous and calm under pressure, stressing that strategic leaders must be able to anticipate emerging threats, frame problems accurately and make difficult decisions despite incomplete information.
According to him, every decision taken by strategic leaders must reflect the national interest, respect human dignity and remain firmly grounded in constitutional authority and the rule of law.
The CNS noted that the participants had, during the course, been exposed to lectures, seminars, strategic exercises, research and robust intellectual exchanges designed to broaden their understanding of the forces shaping national power, security and development.
He said the ability to exercise sound judgement, consider competing perspectives and translate policy and strategy into effective implementation remained among the most valuable outcomes of higher defence education.
Vice Admiral Abbas also stressed the importance of collaboration among institutions and nations, noting that no single institution or country could secure the future alone.
He encouraged the graduates to sustain the professional networks established during the course, describing them as valuable assets for bridging institutional divides, exchanging ideas and coordinating responses to shared security challenges.
“National security is a shared responsibility and effective partnership remains indispensable,” he said.
The CNS congratulated participants who received awards for outstanding performance, describing the honours as recognition of their diligence and excellence, while reminding them that such distinctions came with greater responsibility to maintain higher standards of leadership and service.
He further urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, constitutional responsibility, discipline and political neutrality in their future assignments, whether in military command, policymaking, diplomacy, law enforcement, public administration or international engagements.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, said the institution remained committed to providing high-quality strategic education through academic programmes, strategic exercises and policy-oriented research.
He said the college's initiatives continued to broaden the strategic outlook of participants while strengthening its contribution to national security, policy development and strategic leadership.
Rear Admiral Ahmed expressed appreciation to the military leadership, particularly the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, for their strategic direction and continued confidence in the institution.
He also commended the college's faculty and staff for their professionalism and dedication, noting that beyond classroom instruction, they served as mentors, researchers and facilitators in developing the intellectual and professional capacity of participants.
The Commandant equally acknowledged the sacrifices and support of spouses, families and loved ones of the participants throughout the demanding 11-month programme, saying their encouragement contributed significantly to the successful completion of the course.
He congratulated the participants on meeting the requirements for the award of the prestigious Fellow of the Defence College, describing the achievement as a testament to their dedication, resilience and commitment to professional excellence
The representative of the international participants also commended the NDC for providing an environment that brought together professionals from different countries, institutions and backgrounds around a common strategic purpose.
He said the course exposed international participants to diverse national perspectives, security experiences and approaches to development, while strengthening their capacity for critical analysis, policy formulation, strategic leadership and decision-making.
He noted that the participants would return to their respective countries with stronger professional networks and a deeper understanding of national and international security challenges, which would assist them in advising governments, strengthening institutions and contributing to strategic leadership.
He expressed appreciation to the Commandant, faculty, research and support staff for their commitment to the success of the programme, while thanking Nigerian participants for their friendship and hospitality.
The international participants pledged to sustain the relationships developed at the college and use them to promote greater cooperation among countries and contribute to a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa and the world.
The highlight of the dinner was the presentation of awards and recognition to distinguished personalities, faculty and dedicated members of staff for their exceptional contributions to the development of the National Defence College.
The occasion also featured the unveiling of the college magazine, marking another milestone in the institution's efforts to document its activities and contributions to strategic education and national development.
The graduation dinner brought together senior military officers, government officials, faculty members, graduates, international participants, families and other stakeholders to celebrate the successful completion of Course 34.
