The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Olatoye, to intensify cadet training with a focus on purposeful leadership, discipline, character, courage, and strategic thinking to bridge operational gaps in the military.
The charge was given during a courtesy visit by the Commandant, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, to Army Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
Lieutenant General Shaibu emphasized the importance of strengthening research centres, particularly the NDA Department of Military Science, as a strategic step towards boosting Nigeria’s National Defence Industry and enhancing indigenous capacity for military innovation and self-reliance.
He noted that a strong research framework would provide the intellectual foundation required for a modern, responsive, and technologically advanced fighting force.
The COAS also advocated for a comprehensive curriculum overhaul to address contemporary security challenges.
He stressed the need for enhanced night training, physical fitness, and instruction in emerging warfare domains, including artificial intelligence, to ensure young officers are fully prepared for modern battlefield realities.
Lieutenant General Shaibu stated, “These measures will equip officers with the warrior ethos and battle-oriented leadership skills essential to advance the transformation of the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready, and resilient force capable of decisively discharging its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.”
He assured his full support to the NDA in achieving these objectives.
In response, Major General Olatoye congratulated the COAS on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him to lead the NDA, describing the Academy as the “training factory” for future military officers.
The NDA Commandant pledged to build on the legacies of his predecessors while soliciting sustained support from the COAS to realise the Academy’s vision of producing competent, disciplined, and professional officers capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s security interests.
