Abuja: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has urged the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) to intensify its research initiatives and explore new knowledge-driven strategies to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi, Shaibu delivered this call to action at the centre’s 10th anniversary celebration.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the COAS emphasized the importance of NARC’s role as the Army’s leading think tank amid increasingly complex security threats facing the nation. He highlighted the necessity for NARC to build upon its current achievements and seek innovative solutions to improve operational and tactical outcomes in the field. Shaibu underscored the need for adaptable, intelligence-led, and research-backed interventions to address Nigeria’s multifaceted security issues and urged NARC to remain at the forefront of generating new ideas for defense and national security policy.
Shaibu also encouraged the centre to enhance its collaborations with both local and international institutions, noting that such partnerships would expand its research capabilities and improve the quality of strategic insights provided to the military and government. He praised the centre for its contributions in publishing research papers, conducting training, and providing policy guidance, describing it as a source of strategic knowledge and power. The COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s loyalty to the Constitution and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Centre, retired Maj.-Gen. James Myam, remarked that the anniversary marked a decade of dedication to knowledge, strategic foresight, and national service. He highlighted the centre’s growth from a small research outfit into a national hub for defense innovation, strategy development, and capacity building. Myam noted significant investments in research programs, simulation training, policy development, and partnerships that have enhanced the army’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging threats. He stated that the centre is already focusing its next decade on deeper research, technology adoption, and global partnerships.
The event also featured a lecture titled, ‘Knowledge, Power and National Security in the 21st Century: Nigeria in Perspective,’ delivered by former defense chief, retired Gen. Martin Luther Agwai. Notable attendees included former COAS Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, along with several other retired and serving officers and dignitaries.