Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. PHOTO: gettyimages
Former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday, charged the military authorities to seek upgrading of the National Defence College (NDC) to a university status. This was even as he tasked politicians, NGOs and stakeholders to undergo short courses in the college, saying it was only by so doing that they can have better grasp of not only security matters, but also nation building. Abubakar said since all the arms of the nation’s Armed Forces have established their various war colleges for the training of their personnel, retaining the status of the National Defence College at the moment was unnecessary.
The former Nigerian leader, who spoke as a guest lecturer at the 25th anniversary of the National Defence College, noted that time was ripe for the college to be elevated to a degree awarding institution, to be called “National Defence University. While noting that modern defence colleges were becoming more engaged in academic activities that leads to the award of higher degrees, he advised that the college can partner with other institutions of higher learning in the country for similar purpose.
The former head of state, however lamented that after 25 years the College was still occupying a temporary facility due to non-completion of its permanent site at Piwoyi, adding that it is therefore expedient that government should complete the site as matter of urgency, “he said.
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