Commandant: Defence college trained 2,750 participants in 31 years 

Olumuyiwa Olotu, commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), says 2,750 participants, comprising 2,466 from Nigeria and 296 from other countries have been trained at the institution in 31 years.

Olotu spoke in Abuja on Friday while inaugurating the NDC course 32. 

The commandant said the college had since its establishment in 1992 trained several senior military officers, police personnel, operatives of other security agencies and officials of strategic ministries of government as well as those from friendly nations.

Olotu said the college was established to prepare the participants for optimal performance and appointments at the strategic level of governance.

He said 108 participants are taking course 32, including 68 senior officers from the Nigerian armed forces, six from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and 19 from other security agencies.

Others are from strategic ministries, departments and agencies of government.

He added that the course also has 15 international participants from the Republic of Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Germany, India, Liberia and Mali.

Participants are also from Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Olotu urged them to use the opportunity to prepare themselves for higher responsibilities in their various services and countries.

He noted that “democracy is gradually but steadily being entrenched in Nigeria” as it is in most parts of the world and to a large extent, adding that “Nigerians are witnessing the dividends of democracy”.

“However, sectorial differences still prevail, thereby hindering the government’s efforts towards national security and development,” he said.

“Without national cohesion, issues of security and development will always be undermined and this will pose a serious challenge for government at all levels.

“This underscores, the consideration of the topics selected for this all-important inaugural lecture, which is Strengthening National Unity for Security and Development in Nigeria.”