Commandant NDC Declares ECOWAS Senior Mission Leaders Course Open in Abuja

Author: admin Published on: February 10, 2026 Published in: NDC News

The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC) Nigeria, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, officially inaugurated the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Senior Mission Leaders Course today, Monday, February 9, 2026. The five-day strategic training, hosted at the NDC in Abuja, brings together key participants from across ECOWAS member states to strengthen the region’s peacekeeping and crisis management architecture.

Strategic Leadership in Modern Peacekeeping

Representing the Commandant, the Deputy Commandant, Director of Studies, Major General Kelvin Ukandu, emphasized that the course is a collaborative effort between the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies (CSRS) and the ECOWAS Commission.

The curriculum is specifically designed to address

Conflict Prevention: Proactive measures to stall burgeoning crises.
Crises Management: Effective handling of active regional threats.
Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Long-term stabilization and rebuilding.

“Modern peacekeeping demands more than tactical knowledge; it requires diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, gender awareness, and strategic decision-making,” Major General Ukandu stated on behalf of the Commandant.

Addressing Regional Security Challenges

The course arrives at a critical juncture for West Africa. Rear Admiral Ahmed’s address highlighted a “resurgence of conflict” manifesting through:

Terrorism and Insurgency.
Transnational Organized Crimes.
Piracy and Maritime Security Threats.
Unconstitutional Changes of Government.

He noted that while Peace Support Operations (PSO) have seen successes, the persistent nature of these threats continues to trigger political and humanitarian crises. This course serves as a gateway to training mission leaders at the strategic level to bridge existing capacity gaps.

Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, represented by Dr Adamu Sani, Acting Head of the ECOWAS PSO Division, echoed the urgency of the training. “West Africa is currently faced with complex security challenges threatening the very fabric of the region,” Dr. Sani remarked. He noted that the training aligns with the broader ECOWAS vision of a secure and prosperous West Africa by equipping leaders with the skills to navigate multidimensional peace operations.

The opening ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials and stakeholders in regional security, including Brigadier General E Etuk, representing the Provost of the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, Senior staff and delegates from the ECOWAS Headquarters, Facilitators and resource persons from the NDC.

The ECOWAS representative commended the NDC for providing world-class facilities and a conducive environment for this high-level engagement, urging participants to maximize the expertise of the resource persons present.