From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has charged the armed forces and security agencies to be innovative by developing security and defence strategies to suit regional, continental and international threats.
Osinbajo said the world had moved from the approach of security management, where military and security agencies were thought to be the exclusive custodians of security matters.
He gave the charge at the 30th Anniversary/Graduation Dinner and Award night organised for participants of Course 30 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja.
Osinbajo, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Adeyemi Dipeolu, maintained that security was an entire societal responsibility that could only be achieved in unison with a diverse range of state and civil society actors.
“You must embrace smart ways of managing society in a pervasively digital universe as contemporary technologies have introduced new levels of complexity to an already challenging security environment.
“Technological revolution in the present era also avails you of a broad range of tools with which you can protect our vital interests and safeguard our people. You must be relentlessly innovative in exploiting these options. Overall, you must be sensitive to the needs and demands of the people who are the primary reference of national security as the spear and shield of our nation.’’
Osinbajo urged the international participants of the college to be proud alumni, maintain the bonds they had made, and continue to support Nigeria’s efforts at maintaining peace and security.
“I have no doubt that you have come to fully appreciate this activity and security management, in furtherance of the whole of society doctrine. It is clear that you must also embrace the role that women play in contemporary security management and give meaning to it in your future engagements. In this regard, I am glad that this institution has consistently given female participants equal opportunity to participate in this highly rewarding strategic leadership training. “Our defence cooperation with friendly nations in Africa and the world has been mutually beneficial. I specially recognise all the foreign dignitaries and international participants here, and convey our appreciation for your association with Nigeria and the NDC.”
Commandant of the college, Rear Admiral Murtala Bashir, while congratulating the participants for their commitment and resilience throughout the duration of the course, said the celebration of the 30th set of graduates since the establishment of the NDC, in 1992 was a milestone in the college’s history.
While noting that the security environment had been volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, the commandant said the ability to pull through the complexity and uncertainty has made the participants strategic as would have understood and appreciated the fact that the course was designed to test their resilience and ability to take difficult and complex decisions in terms of uncertainty, stress and strain.
He expressed the hope that the knowledge and experience they have gained at the college would distinguish them in leadership wherever they find themselves.
He told them to always remember that security management was no longer the exclusive domain of the armed forces, intelligence and other security forces, as civilian populations were crucial to military operations, adding that there was hardly any operation these days that did not involve the civil populace directly or indirectly.