The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Samuel Alade has lamented the inadequate funding that has affected its operations, even as the foremost military college is set to celebrate its silver jubilee.
Alade who spoke in Abuja at the weekend during a press conference to kick start activities marking the 25th year anniversary of the college, noted that it is challenged by inadequate funding.
He said, “We have the challenge of satisfying request for slots from many organisations, especially this year alone. The request is unprecedented, both from organisations in the country and our foreign friend from Africa and Europe, America, Asia.”
He added that the college permanent sites are yet to be completed because of paucity of funds and its research grant inadequate.
However, Alade pointed out that the NDC has trained about 2001 ‘strategic leaders and thinkers’ in its 25 years, since inception.
He said the college was set up by the administration of the then military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on June 16, 1992, and was later moved from Lagos to Abuja by late Gen. Sani Abacha.
The commandant said trainees were drawn from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other senior military officers within Africa and other continents.
He said, “We produce strategic leaders and thinkers to handle issues of national security and development. There is a nexus between the two, national security and national development.”
“The mission of the college is to prepare selected senior military officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and their civilian counterparts for higher level policy, command and staff functions,” he added.
Alade said that the college had trained many past and serving Service Chiefs, including Chiefs of Defence Staff, National Security Advisers and former Inspectors-General of Police among others.
He listed activities lined up to mark the anniversary to include a lecture to be delivered by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar on June 16th, titled, “Capacity Building for Defence Management: The role of the National Defence College.’’
Others activities are Silver Jubilee Juma’at prayers, Interdenominational Church service, Golf tournament, and Jubilee graduation dinner, and later culminate with the graduation of course 25 participants on August 4th.
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