The Nigerian Navy has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed as the 22nd Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), the country’s premier military institution responsible for training senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria as well as participants from allied nations in strategic leadership and national security management.

Rear Admiral Ahmed succeeds Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun, reflecting the military’s confidence in his leadership, professionalism, and extensive experience built over more than three decades of service.

A distinguished officer, Ahmed previously served as the 7th Commandant of the Naval War College, where he oversaw key courses and graduation ceremonies for Command Level Officers. He has also held senior appointments, including Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration, Director of Recruitment, Resettlement, and Reserve at Naval Headquarters, Director of Plans, Chief Staff Officer at the Naval Training Command, and Commander of Naval Base PATHFINDER and Naval Unit Abuja. Additionally, he has served as Directing Staff at the NDC, Air Force War College, and Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, mentoring mid- and senior-level officers in strategy, defence policy, and inter-agency cooperation.

Rear Admiral Ahmed is an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where he earned a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences (1993). He holds a Master’s in International Affairs from the University of Ghana (2011), a Master’s in International Security Studies from the University of Leicester, UK (2014), and completed the International Cyber Policy Programme at Cranfield University, UK in 2014.

Among his professional honours are the Grand Service Star (GSS), Pass Staff College Dagger (psc+), and Distinguished Fellow titles from the Air Force War College (afwc+), National Defence College (fdc+), and Naval War College (defnc+). He has also received the Chief of Naval Staff Commendation.

Renowned for his intellectual depth, humility, and calm leadership style, Rear Admiral Ahmed is widely respected in military circles for his commitment to academic excellence, discipline, and professional ethics. He is married with children, and his hobbies include reading and long-range hunting.