The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has commended participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 33 for offering innovative and futuristic solutions to national security challenges.

This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, on Friday.

Mr Oluyede gave the commendation on Friday in Abuja, at the presentation of the COAS Research Paper, a requirement for the award of the Fellow, Defence College (fdc).

The paper titled “Directed Energy Weapons and National Security: Strategic Options for the NA by 2040, ″ explores the strategic utility of emerging military technologies in strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture.

The COAS applauded the participants for their forward-thinking approach and urged them to continue developing practical solutions that aligned with the nation’s evolving security landscape.

He also directed the Department of Army Transformation and Innovation to strengthen partnership with key stakeholders and sustain efforts in military capacity development.

Earlier, the Commandant of the College, Rear Adm. James Okosun, noted that the COAS had earlier tasked Course 33 participants to research topics that would shape the future of the Nigerian army.

Mr Okosun said the college’s training modules provided a platform for critical interrogation of contemporary national security and development issues.

He expressed appreciation to the army chief for approving the research topic and reaffirmed the college’s commitment to supporting the army modernisation agenda.

Presenting the paper, the Course Representative, Col. Obinna Eke, said advanced technologies such as directed energy weapons were increasingly being adopted globally to address complex threats.

Mr Eke noted that Nigeria’s ongoing military modernisation efforts placed it in a strategic position to adopt such innovations in line with regional and global defence trends.

The Course 33 participants include 99 senior officers and officials drawn from Nigeria’s Armed Forces, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including allied countries across Africa and beyond.

 (NAN)