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Defence Minister Urges Graduating Officers to Adapt Faster Than Those Seeking to Undermine National Security

Defence Minister Urges Graduating Officers to Adapt Faster Than Those Seeking to Undermine National Security – THISDAYLIVE

Linus Aleke in Abuja 

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), has urged graduating military officers to strengthen their ability to anticipate risks, identify vulnerabilities and adapt more quickly than those seeking to undermine national security. He stressed that their task is not simply to respond to threats after they emerge.

He also urged the officers to combine professional competence with intellectual curiosity and the courage to make difficult decisions under pressure.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Army War College Nigeria Course 10/2026 yesterday in Abuja, the Defence Minister stressed that Nigeria was making efforts to develop indigenous defence capabilities in various areas while strengthening cooperation with reliable international partners.

He said, “The task before you, therefore, is not simply to respond to threats after they emerge. We must strengthen our ability to anticipate risks, identify vulnerabilities and adapt more quickly than those who seek to undermine our national security.

“I believe this college has imparted these skills to you. Today’s commanders and leaders must combine professional competence with intellectual curiosity and have the courage to make difficult decisions under pressure.

“At the forefront of our strategic vision, we are making efforts to develop indigenous defence capabilities in various areas while strengthening cooperation with reliable international partners. Our long-term security architecture cannot rest solely on foreign technologies.”

General Musa said Nigeria was progressively building the capacity to understand, maintain, adapt and produce systems that respond to its own operational realities.

He said this required purposeful collaboration among the Armed Forces, universities, research institutions, defence industries and Nigerian innovators.

He added, “Our institutions must build capacity in areas relevant to hybrid warfare, such as unmanned aerial systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and data analytics, to enhance operational effectiveness. As current and future operational and strategic leaders, you have a direct role to play in this process.

“Innovation is not the exclusive responsibility of engineers, scientists or procurement specialists. Commanders are often best placed to identify operational gaps, articulate problems clearly and work towards developing solutions.”

He concluded that the value of the college would ultimately be measured not by the certificates alone, but by the quality of judgement the officers demonstrated in leadership and the results they delivered in the field.

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Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce. 

Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.

Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.

‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.

This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.

Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.

By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.

To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.

These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.

‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.

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