The Nigerian Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 7/2023 participants have embarked on a geo-strategic study tour to four African countries. The College Public Relations Officer, Major Hashimu Sa’ad Abdullahi, made this known in a statement released on Monday.
The tour, which is themed “Protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure of National Defence,” began on June 10, 2023, and is aimed at exposing participants to Nigeria’s sphere of influence within its geo-strategic environment. The participating officers will visit Uganda, Morocco, Togo, and Algeria to enhance their critical thinking skills, broaden their perspectives, and enable them to apply strategic principles in practical settings.
According to Major Abdullahi, the study tour is a vital component of the participants’ training curriculum as it provides them with practical exposure to real-life military operations, tactics, and decision-making processes. The tour will also make participants appreciate the security implications of Nigeria being a regional power and what should be done to maintain that status.
Throughout the tour, participants will visit various military formations, including training centres, command headquarters, and other critical infrastructures in the countries. They will also have the opportunity to interact with senior military officers, engage in discussions on operational challenges, and learn from their experiences. Furthermore, the participants will visit historical sites that hold significance to the country’s military history.
Each team on this study tour has senior staff officers appointed to lead the participants through the four countries. Major General Bamidele Alabi, the commandant of the college, is the exercise director for the entire tour. Brigadier General TJ Mackintosh will lead Team 1 to Uganda, Team 2 to Morocco will be led by Brigadier General UM Alkali, the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies at AWCN. Team 3 to Togo will be led by Brigadier General U.G. Yusuf while Brigadier General F.O. Onu will lead Team 4 to Algeria.
The strategic study tour is one aspect of the comprehensive curriculum offered by the college, which includes theoretical and practical modules on national security, defence management, leadership, and strategic planning. With these modules, the Nigerian Army War College Nigeria is training highly skilled and competent officers, preparing them to take on global military leadership roles.
