Abuja: The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, has emphasized the importance of collaborative strategies to tackle regional security challenges such as terrorism and insurgency across Africa. Represented by Mrs Bosede Olaniyi, the Director of the Joint Services at the Ministry of Defence, Badaru delivered his message during the closing session of the African Defence Colleges Forum 2025 held on Thursday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum was organized in partnership with the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies and brought together defence education leaders from across Africa and the United States. Badaru urged African defence institutions to serve as ‘architects of a more secure and prosperous Africa,’ emphasizing the need for turning discussions into concrete actions. He praised the forum’s organizers and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fostering multilateral security cooperation and global peace.
Badaru stressed that African security challenges transcend national borders, and so must the solutions. He highlighted the importance of integrated military education and interoperable doctrines that align with current threats. The minister commended the National Defence College and the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies for their leadership and reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening strategic alliances for peace and stability.
Rear Adm. James Okosun, Commandant of the National Defence College Nigeria, also addressed the forum, underscoring the need for stronger collaborations among defence and war colleges. He cited a popular Swahili proverb, ‘a single bracelet does not jingle,’ to emphasize the importance of collective effort. Okosun noted that the event provided an opportunity to advance knowledge and share ideas on overcoming challenges as African nations.
Okosun further mentioned that one of the key pillars of Gen. Christopher Musa’s leadership, the Chief of Defence Staff, is collaboration. He highlighted the success of the forum in advancing knowledge needed to address common problems and in nurturing partnerships. The event concluded positively, with participants leaving fulfilled by the friendships, networks, and shared aspirations formed during the forum.
