South African Army Chief visits National Defence College

By Kingsley Omonobi

Chief of the South African Army, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, on Monday, paid a strategic visit to the National Defence College of Nigeria in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen defence collaboration and professional military education between Nigeria and South Africa, two key strategic partners in Africa’s security architecture.

This is just as he emphasised that “the evolving security environment across Africa requires deeper collaboration among defence institutions and military leaders”.

Director of Army Public Relations, Col Appolonia Anele, while making this known in a statement, said, “During the visit, Lieutenant General Mbatha commended the College for its pivotal role in developing strategic leaders capable of addressing complex security challenges across the African continent.”

Lt. Gen Mbatha noted that ‘institutions such as the National Defence College serve as vital platforms for strengthening cooperation, knowledge exchange, and collective approaches to peace and security among African militaries.”

He stressed that “professional military education remains essential for preparing senior officers to effectively manage strategic decision-making, defence management and leadership responsibilities in contemporary security operations.”

In his remarks, the Commandant NDC, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, represented by Rear Admiral Muhammed Dahiru, welcomed the delegation and described the visit as a clear demonstration of the strong and enduring defence relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.

He noted that such high-level engagements will further strengthen strategic cooperation, deepen professional exchanges and reinforce collaborative efforts toward enhancing peace and security across the continent.

The Commandant disclosed that the National Defence College remains Nigeria’s apex institution for strategic military education, designed to prepare selected senior military officers and civilian officials for higher responsibilities in national security, defence management, and policy formulation.

He noted that the College hosts participants from several allied countries, thereby promoting regional and international cooperation in tackling security challenges.

As part of his strategic visit, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha also led a delegation on a guided tour of the Nigerian Army Museum, where he commended the Nigerian Army for its professionalism and commitment to preserving historical artefacts that honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes.

He noted that documenting materials from various theatres of operation reflects the strong dedication of the Nigerian Army to safeguarding its military heritage and institutional memory.

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