The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Monday, 24 August 2026, joined former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), OFR, the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and other senior security and strategic stakeholders at the National Defence College (NDC) Course 34 Graduation Lecture held at Abacha Hall, NDC, Abuja.
The lecture, delivered by the former President, was themed “Harnessing Industrial Capacity for Inclusive Growth and Regional Stability in Africa.” It provided a strategic platform for senior leaders within Nigeria’s defence and security architecture to examine the critical link between industrial development, economic resilience and sustainable security across Africa.
The high-level engagement also brought together the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Director General of the Department of State Services, heads of other security agencies and distinguished participants to explore how Africa can harness its industrial potential to stimulate inclusive economic growth, strengthen national resilience, reduce strategic vulnerabilities and promote enduring regional stability.
The discourse underscored the growing nexus between industrial capacity, economic security and national defence, particularly against the backdrop of evolving security challenges across the continent. It highlighted the imperative for African nations to strengthen indigenous productive capacity, deepen technological advancement, reduce external dependencies and create sustainable economic opportunities capable of addressing some of the underlying drivers of instability.
The participation of the COAS and other senior defence and security leaders further reinforced the importance of a whole-of-government approach to national security, recognising that sustainable peace and stability are increasingly shaped not only by military capability, but also by economic resilience, industrial strength, technological advancement and effective governance.
The Graduation Lecture formed part of activities marking the completion of NDC Course 34 and further affirmed then College’s pivotal role in developing senior military, security and civilian leaders equipped with the strategic knowledge, critical thinking and professional competencies required to navigate complex national, regional and global security challenges.