The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has directed the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to strengthen cadet training with a sharper focus on discipline, character, courage, and strategic thinking to meet the demands of modern warfare.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Commandant of the NDA, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Lt.-Gen. Shaibu emphasized that producing a new generation of officers capable of responding to evolving security threats requires tougher, battle-hardened training models and a curriculum aligned with present-day operational realities.

He also highlighted the importance of the academy’s research institutions—particularly the Department of Military Science—noting that they are vital for advancing Nigeria’s defense industry and enhancing indigenous capacity for military innovation.

“A robust research framework provides the intellectual backbone required for a modern, responsive, and technologically advanced fighting force,” Shaibu said.

The COAS called for a comprehensive review of the NDA curriculum to integrate night operations training, higher physical fitness standards, artificial intelligence applications, and other emerging domains of warfare. These measures, he said, would instill the “warrior ethos” and leadership qualities necessary to transform the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, and combat-ready force capable of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency operational environment.

Shaibu pledged full support to the Commandant in implementing these reforms, affirming that the Army Headquarters remains committed to producing officers who are strategically sound, operationally competent, and prepared for Nigeria’s complex security challenges.

In response, Major General Olatoye congratulated the COAS on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him to lead the NDA.

Describing the academy as the “training factory” for future officers, Olatoye pledged to build on his predecessors’ achievements and called for continued support to ensure the NDA produces disciplined, professional, and dependable officers capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s security interests.