Abuja: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has praised participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 33 for offering innovative and futuristic solutions to national security challenges. The commendation was given in Abuja during the presentation of the COAS Research Paper, a requirement for the award of the Fellow, Defence College (fdc).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, highlighted that the research paper titled 'Directed Energy Weapons and National Security: Strategic Options for the NA by 2040' explores the strategic utility of emerging military technologies in strengthening Nigeria's defence posture. The COAS acknowledged the participants' forward-thinking approach and urged them to continue developing practical solutions aligned with the nation's evolving security landscape.
He also instructed the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to enhance partnerships with key stakeholders and maintain efforts in military capacity development. Earlier, the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. James Okosun, noted that the COAS had tasked Course 33 participants to research topics that would shape the future of the Nigerian Army. Okosun emphasized that the college's training modules offer a platform for critical interrogation of contemporary national security and development issues.
He expressed gratitude to the army chief for approving the research topic and reaffirmed the college's commitment to supporting the army's modernization agenda. Presenting the paper, the Course Representative, Col. Obinna Eke, stated that advanced technologies like directed energy weapons are increasingly being adopted globally to address complex threats. Eke highlighted that Nigeria's ongoing military modernization efforts position it strategically to adopt such innovations in line with regional and global defence trends.
The Course 33 participants include 99 senior officers and officials from Nigeria's Armed Forces, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as allied countries across Africa and beyond.