The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Defence and Security Symposium is a major package in the Senior Course Curriculum, which offers a unique opportunity to discuss contemporary defence and security issues affecting Nigeria. It aimed at generating ideas from the critical intuitive minds of the students and discussants in order to assist the services find solutions to extant and emerging security challenges.
This was stated by the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) Jaji , Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Wonah during the Opening Ceremony of a 3 – Day AFCSC Defence and Security Symposium with the theme ” *Imperative of a Military Industrial Complex for Effective CTCOIN* *Operations in Nigeria”* .The event took place yesterday 27 April 2023 at Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya Hall AFCSC in Jaji.
During the event AVM Wonah further mentioned that, the focus for this year’s symposium is on the need for a vibrant military industrial complex in order to achieve success in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry among other criminal elements. Adding that, this informed the selection of the theme, which he said was apt considering the current security situations, faced by the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
Consequently, the Federal Government over the years has initiated various programmes and initiatives in the defence and security sectors, which have been tailored towards enhancing professionalism to enable the Armed Forces position itself in the fight against terrorism and other Counter-Insurgency Operations. While, Armed Forces of Nigeria and the wider security sector have to a large extent, benefitted from training support, capacity development and transformation as a result the reforms.
Therefore, he said the current challenges being faced by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the mould of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and so on, have however compelled the need for further reforms or review of the status-quo particularly in the area of military industrial complex.
As such, he said the Armed Forces Command and Staff College feels obliged to contribute to the discourse. Therefore, he urged the moderators and discussants to carry out a thorough critique of the papers which will be presented by the students, so as to add value as well as deepen the discussion on Imperatives of a Military Industrial Complex for Effective CTCOIN Operations in Nigeria.
The Special Guest of Honour, Major General Hassan Tafida while making his remarks stated that, this year’s symposium will broaden the students understanding on the need to have a vibrant Military Industrial Complex that could be employed in combatting security issues affecting the country. Adding, that this could not have come at a better time than now when the country is faced with various security challenges that will require the use of modern military equipment to surmount.
Therefore, he said the importance of the AFCSC Defence and Security Symposium cannot be over emphasized and also wished the moderators and discussants a successful deliberations.
Highlights of the event includes presentation of souvenirs and group photograph.