By Bavoriat Clara
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged senior military officers, security operatives, and top executives in the public and private sectors to apply the knowledge gained from the Strategic Management and Policy Studies Course in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security and governance challenges.
Speaking in Abuja at the graduation ceremony of Course 07/2024 of the Strategic Management and Policy Studies programme at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), the COAS, represented by the Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General Gbemiga Adesina, described the 11-month executive programme as the Nigerian Army’s flagship in human resource development.
According to Lieutenant General Oluyede, the course was designed to enhance participants’ capacity in policy formulation, strategic management, leadership, decision-making, and effective resource utilisation. He stressed that such expertise was vital in building a well-motivated, combat-ready force and in fostering synergy across the military, intelligence, and civil sectors.
Earlier, the Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Retired Major General Garba Wahab, lauded the growing inter-agency participation in the course. He emphasised that strategic management required collaboration, mutual understanding, and the ability to manage risks in complex situations.
Also speaking, the incoming Director General NARC Retired Major General James Myam praised the selection of senior officers from the rank of Colonel and their counterparts from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the training, noting that it would enable them to craft effective policies and strategies in their respective agencies.
In his vote of thanks, the Course President, Major General Sunday Igbonomwanbia, affirmed that the knowledge gained would be put to use for the benefit of the country.
Delivering the course highlight presentation, the Director of Human Resource Development, Brigadier General A. Haruna, explained that the programme was inaugurated on 14 November 2024 after the assembly of participants on 27 September 2024.
He noted that it is designed for senior personnel from the armed forces and other strategic agencies, with eligibility open to officers from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General and their equivalents.
Brigadier General Haruna outlined the course objectives as strengthening participants’ capacity in policy analysis, formulation, and evaluation; enhancing their understanding of the relationship between public policy and national development; and equipping them with skills for constructive policy engagement in diverse environments.
The 45-week programme was structured into five thematic areas policy, management, entrepreneurship, research methodology, and psychology covering modules such as fundamentals of public policy, policy-making and analysis, management theory and practice, and strategic engagement.
Participants were trained to critically analyse and review policies, apply strategic thinking in leadership, resolve conflicts, manage complex organisations, explore business opportunities, and develop sustainable ventures.To bridge theory and practice, the course incorporated three levels of study tours.
Locally, participants visited ministries, agencies, and industries in Abuja, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Army Farms, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. Nationally, they toured Taraba State from 3 to 7 March 2025, visiting government institutions and private enterprises such as the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service, Technology Incubation Centre, Biotechnology Agency, and Natu Water Factory.
Internationally, from 6 to 22 February 2025, the participants undertook a world study tour to the Republic of Rwanda, visiting key institutions including the Genocide Memorial Museum, Rwanda Defence Force Headquarters, the Rwanda Cooperation Agency, and the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital.
The 25 graduates comprised five Major Generals, four Brigadier Generals, and one Colonel from the Nigerian Army; three Air Commodores from the Nigerian Air Force; two Assistant Directors of Internal Security from the Department of State Services; one Assistant Controller and two Chief Superintendents from the Nigerian Customs Service; one Deputy Director and four Assistant Directors from the Defence Intelligence Agency; and two Assistant Directors from the National Youth Service Corps.In recognition of NARC’s collaboration with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), all graduates will receive a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the NDA, alongside the NARC Certificate of Participation.
The graduation ceremony, which commenced with a ceremonial luncheon held on 7 August 2025, is one of NARC’s flagship programmes, designed to equip senior officials with the tools to address contemporary security, governance, and policy challenges through interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
It was attended by senior military officers, dignitaries, and invited guests, with certificates presented by the Special Guest of Honour on the invitation of the Director-General of NARC.
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