COAS Says High-Level Training Key to Army’s Operational Success

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, says high-quality training and core warfighting skills remain central to the Nigerian Army’s recent operational achievements. He made the remarks on Friday while inaugurating Course 10/2026 at the Army War College Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the COAS described the College as the Army’s premier institution for operational-level education, providing the bridge between tactical execution and strategic direction. The statement noted that the College equips selected officers with the capacity to translate national and military objectives into coherent operational plans within joint and multi-agency settings.

Lieutenant General Shaibu said that since its establishment in 2017, the College has developed into a hub for operational art, strategy and national security studies. Quoting former Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, he restated that no substitute exists for thorough training and essential military skills. He urged participants to embrace new ideas and expand their professional competence.

The Army Chief encouraged participants to take full advantage of the College’s academic and experiential learning platform, saying the course is designed to prepare them for senior responsibilities in complex operational theatres. He added that the programme aligns with his command philosophy of building a more professional, adaptable and combat-ready Army capable of fulfilling its constitutional mandate within a joint security environment.

Addressing current and emerging threats,General Shaibu highlighted the need for adaptive leadership, improved operational readiness and sound administration. He urged participants to broaden their strategic perspective and strengthen their understanding of modern warfare, stressing that the country will depend on them for innovative responses to evolving security challenges.

Earlier, the Commandant of the College, Major General Umaru Alkali, described the course inauguration as an important step in the career development of participating officers. He said the curriculum is designed to produce agile and informed leaders capable of operating effectively within a volatile security environment.

Course 10/2026 draws 85 officers from the Nigerian Army, alongside two officers each from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.

Participants from Botswana, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Ghana and South Africa are also enrolled, underscoring Nigeria’s wider regional defence engagement.

The ceremony featured an inaugural lecture titled Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defence, delivered by former Chief of Defence Staff Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin