The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Rear Admiral O. M Olotu, has said that the College has trained various military formations and police officers since it was established.
The Commandant, who spoke today, July 30 when he paid a familiarization visit to the FCT Administration, said that the Command has trained a total of 2,645 participants from the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Nigerian Airforce, the Nigerian Police Force.
It also trained other offers from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as allied participants from 30 African countries and other parts of the world.
He said that the College also has participants from Bangladesh, France, Germany, India, Qatar and Pakistan.
The Commandant said that he assumed the leadership of the College on the 6th of July this year, barely three weeks ago and that he decided to pay homage to the host, the FCT Administration, so, that he would familiarize himself with the leadership.
“Most importantly, to thank the FCTA for all the support rendered to the College over the years, since 1992 when the College moved from Lagos to Abuja.”
He said that the College, which is the highest military training institution within the sub-Saharan region of Africa, has been providing strategic level training to officers and senior officers of the armed forces, the police, paramilitary agencies, ministries, departments and agencies of government as well as foreign officers from allied nations.
“It’s been a tremendous and very wonderful working relationship between the College and the FCTA and I dare state here that the College wouldn’t have been able to achieve anything without the assistance, cooperation and timely help rendered by this office. Thank you very much for all you’ve done for the college.”
The Commandant appealed for further cooperation and support at its new permanent complex to ensure the safety and comfort of its students.
Responding, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, commended the National Defence College for living up to expectation by contributing to knowledge and the development in Nigeria. He said that the College has garnered such a great goodwill that has made it a reference point where countries send their officers to continuously engage in training activities.
He pledged the cooperation of the FCTA in meeting the requests of the Defence College by channeling its demands and concerns as made known by the Commandant to the appropriate SDAs of the Administration.
