NDC Course 33 Army Participants Present Futuristic Defence Paper To COAS

Nigerian Army (NA) participants of Course 33 of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, have presented a strategic research paper to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede. The presentation, held on Friday, 24 July 2025, at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Conference Room, Abuja, was part of the requirements for the award of the prestigious Fellow of the Defence College (fdc).

The research paper, titled “Directed Energy Weapons and National Security: Strategic Options for the NA by 2040,” was delivered by Colonel Obinna Eke on behalf of the participants. Leading the delegation, the Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral James Okosun, explained that the topic was assigned by the COAS at the commencement of the course as a task to explore forward-looking solutions for the NA. He noted that the paper was developed under the supervision of the College’s faculty as part of the Higher Management of Defence module, a core element of the College’s curriculum designed to interrogate critical defence and security issues and propose practical strategic options.

The Commandant also highlighted the diverse composition of the College participants, which includes officers from the Nigerian Armed Forces, paramilitary agencies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as international allied countries. He expressed appreciation to the COAS for his continued support and looked forward to his presence at the forthcoming graduation ceremony of Course 33.

In his remarks, the COAS commended the participants for their extensive and thoughtful research, particularly the exploration of the potential deployment of Directed Energy Weapons to address emerging and future security challenges. He assured the team that the NA will consider implementing aspects of the research that are realistic and achievable.

General Oluyede also lauded the NDC for its strategic contributions to defence development, describing it as a citadel of intellectual and operational excellence for the Armed Forces.

Notably, Principal Staff Officers at AHQ who attended the session offered valuable insights and constructive feedback drawn from their vast professional experiences, which will further enrich the participants’ research outcomes and broaden their strategic perspectives.