- Akpabio emphasized the need for delivering democracy’s dividends and improving governance in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
- The theme for Course 31 was ‘Building Resilience for National Security Development,’ with hopes that solutions from the college will enhance defense transformation and national security
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has emphasized the importance of building resilience as a key part of addressing the present and future security challenges worldwide.
Akpabio conveyed this message during the Graduation Dinner and Award Night for the participants of the National Defence College Course 31 in Abuja, held on Wednesday.
Senator Gbenga Daniel, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, represented Akpabio at the event. Akpabio acknowledged the substantial investment made by the college in nurturing and preparing the participants with the necessary strategic knowledge over the past 11 months, which involved significant intellectual effort and stress.
According to him, the nation demands that the government deliver a dividend of democracy based on the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu and improve the quality of governance.
“So I look forward to receiving the thoughtful and workable solutions to the myriads of challenges bedevilling our nation.
“We also remember that the nation is also caught up in global challenges, which have far-reaching consequences.
“Meanwhile, the world has grown from the external defensive approach to security management, where the military and security agency are forced to be the exclusive custodians of security globally,” he said.
According to him, the whole of society’s approach to security management has been heralded as the way to go for matters of security.
“It is, however, heartwarming to note that for this Course 31, the theme was ‘Building Resilience for National Security Development’.
“It is my sincere hope that the solutions emanating from this college will become veritable tools that will enhance defence transformation and national security in years ahead,” he said.
Akpabio highlighted the significant benefits that Nigeria and its partner nations in Africa and around the world have derived from their defense cooperation. He expressed gratitude to the foreign participants for their collaboration with Nigeria and the National Defense College.
He encouraged the international participants from 21 allied nations to take pride in being alumni of the college and to carry the knowledge and experience gained here into their respective countries’ armed forces.
Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu, the Commandant of the College, emphasized that the participants had grasped the essence of the course, which aimed to assess their resilience and their capacity to make tough and intricate decisions in times of uncertainty, stress, and pressure.
He pointed out that the strategic landscape was characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, and their ability to navigate these challenges was what defined them as strategic leaders.