Ghanaian President, Akufo-Addo, Abubakar to Speak at Defence College Silver Jubilee

By Paul Obi in Abuja
 

The Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) are to speak as Guest of Honour at the National Defence College  (NDC) Abuja silver Jubillee anniversary and the graduation ceremony of Course 25.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade told journalist  yesterday that “the 25th anniversary lecture would be delivered on 16 June by Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, while the President of Ghana, Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo would deliver the graduation lecture on August 2“.

Admiral Alade explained that Gen Abubakar would speak on the topic: ‘Capacity Building for Defence Management: The Role of the National Defence College’ while the President of Ghana would speak on the topic: ‘Africa’s Economic Integration and Regional Security: An Assessment.’

He stated that arrangements have been concluded by the institution to graduate 133 participants of Course 25 and mark the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the College.

The NDC Course 25 Graduation Ceremony slated for the 4th of August is expected to be reviewed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Commandant stressed that the graduation ceremony would bring to 2001 the number of participants so far trained by the College since its establishment in 1992.

Rear Admiral Alade said : “The current NDC Course 25 comprising 133 participants drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police , the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, Ministry of Defence as well as allied countries of India, Brazil, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali, Togo, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire and Zimbabwe which was inaugurated in September 2016 is scheduled to graduate on 4 August 2017.”

He observed that the Silver Jubillee Course 25 “remains unique given that participants undertook geo-strategic study tour of the 36 states and FCT and embarked on tour of military installations of some units and formations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as a geo-strategic World Study Tour of 20 selected countries across the globe.”

Alade added that “the curriculum of the college has been reviewed to make participation more attractive in line with changing international security dynamics, noting that this has made requests for slots from many organisations within and outside the country more competitive.”

He said the “college has produced strategic leaders and thinkers to handle issues of national security and national development in today’s modern world, as development cannot be achieved without peace and security.

“Concerned authorities are to increase funding for the institution for Research and speedy completion of works at the permanent site of the College at Piwoyi, Abuja, saying an ECOWAS Training Centre of Excellence such as the College should not be lacking in research outfits and other necessary infrastructures”.

He informed journalists that “the next course would be inaugurated in September 15 with participants from Turkey, Germany, Pakistan, Brasil, Bangladesh and some allied countries of Africa,” adding that, “the present leadership of the college would continue to take the issue of human and infrastructural development of the college in line with global best practices most seriously.”