SPEECH BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO AM GSS psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS FIIPS FCAI SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR FOR THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE ARMED FORCES COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE JUNIOR COURSE 91 ON FRI 18 JUN 21
PROTOCOL
1. It gives me great pleasure to be in your midst today to witness another milestone in the annals of this dynamic institution which is the Graduation of Junior Course 91. Since inception, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College has carved a niche for itself as the Centre of Excellence for the training of middle cadre officers. This is evident in the scope of the participation in courses at the College. I would like to thank the organisers of this graduation ceremony, especially the Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College for inviting me as the Special Guest of Honour to this occasion. Today’s ceremony is significant not only to the graduating officers and their families, but marks an important milestone in the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s resolve to uphold its constitutional responsibility.
2. This ceremony could not have come at a better time than this, when the political, economic, diplomatic, social and military lines are all working in synergy to achieve our strategic end-state; which is to “defeat the threats to our national security”. As part of military effort to uphold this drive, this morning, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College will be graduating professionally qualified tactical Grade 3 Staff Officers of our armed forces, ministries, departments and agencies as well as mid-career officers from sister countries. I would like you to know that the appellation ‘Passed Junior Staff Course’ anywhere in the world confers more responsibilities in the quality and output of staff in the field and staff work. It therefore means that you must live up to expectation and guard jealously the high reputation and standard of training associated with this College.
3. As you are aware, the mission of the College is to develop professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers of the Armed Forces in order to prepare them for increasing responsibilities both in staff and command appointments. This implies that it is not every officer within your category that would have the opportunity of being nominated for this course. With this in mind, I consider you privileged to have undergone the Junior Staff Course. Most importantly, for having successfully completed the Course, I say congratulations.
4. In the past 23 weeks, you have been thoroughly subjected to various demanding tasks that exposed you to several presentations, lectures, discussions, exercises as well as tours outside the College. All these have been carefully put together for you to imbibe what General Douglas MacArthur, a former Chief of Staff of the United States Army called ‘The Cardinal Virtues of a Soldier’. I am sure you have learnt Time Management, Punctuality, Team Spirit, Staff Skills, Esprit-de-corps, and Self Confidence amongst others. You would have also acquired the required discipline needed to enable you to endure the stress and strains that may likely confront you as Grade 3 Level Officers. These qualities I believe must have assisted you a great deal to survive the strict supervision of the ‘Red Forces’ and the pressures associated with ‘Red Ink Correction’ exercises. Today, you have come to understand even more than what you thought was probably impossible. Like it is commonly said in the College, ‘you are now better informed’.
5. The Junior Course is structured to lay a solid foundation and prepare you for tactical level field and staff work. I am aware that the Junior Course curriculum is constantly being reviewed to enable you cope with the ever- changing nature of warfare; insurgency, terrorism, militancy and banditry amongst others. You must consider yourself fortunate to have benefitted from packages such as estimate process, counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations, peace support operations, media awareness and disaster management. I understand that a new package on National Cultural Studies was introduced into your curriculum. This I believe is to further expose you to the peculiarities of our vast cultural heritage as a nation. The knowledge gained would enable junior commanders like you to leverage on the vast socio-cultural differences within your Area of Operation to achieve mission objectives. Similarly, you are also privileged to have been exposed and practised in the planning and execution of joint as well as combined operations at the tactical level which culminated in Exercise UBIAK ISIN. The Exercise tested your understanding and application of staff duties, command and leadership, basic logistics planning and application of the manoeuvrist approach to warfare. As noted earlier, these packages were meant to prepare you for effective operation as Grade 3 Staff Officers and junior commanders in your respective countries, Services, organisations, or during tri-Service as well as multi-agency engagements.
6. As you return to your countries, units and organisations, I would want you to bear in mind that you will be given appointments and. responsibilities that would challenge and test the skills you have acquired whilst on this Course. For officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, your sense of judgement in applying these skills will even be more useful now than ever, bearing in mind the contemporary security challenges confronting our country. In this regard, you must uphold the highest standards of discipline vis-a-vis character, integrity, excellence, service and teamwork, as well as respect for the rule of law and human rights in your service to the nation. You will be held to these standards not just as ambassadors of the Armed Forces but also as products of this institution. Please be reminded that the moment the Commandant graciously conferred on you the appellation ‘pjsc’, you cease to have an excuse for not performing your duties as required.
7. As the Federal Government continues to vigorously pursue the ‘Next Level Agenda’, you should take note that much more will be expected from the military. Our actions, particularly during counter insurgency operations are crucial and must be guided by the Armed Forces Act, Standing Operating Procedures and Rules of Engagement. However, our actions or inactions would really be dependent on your sense of judgement, appreciation and decision-making skills. It is therefore pertinent that you always conduct yourself in a manner befitting of an officer and gentleman when discharging your duties in line with global best practices.
8. On the global scene, I need not remind you that the world has been miniaturised by information communication technology. Notably, vast oceans have been reduced to mere ponds, and the domino effect of citizen uprisings spreading rapidly from one country to the other. No nation, no matter how powerful, can claim to be an island unto itself in our present world. As nations are becoming increasingly interdependent, we cannot afford to remain aloof considering our size, population and contribution to the maintenance of global peace and security. Nigeria’s commitment to international peace will continue to require your services as military observers, staff officers or members of contingents in multinational operations. Having gone through the Peace Support Operations package, I am very confident that you will do the nation proud whenever and wherever such opportunities avail itself. It is my hope therefore that you are all prepared to serve our country gallantly in the various theatre of operations.
9. I say big congratulations to our colleagues from sister countries; Benin Republic, Cameroun, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. Indeed, you have done your countries and families proud for successfully completing the Junior Course. I hope you will continue to nurture the relationships you have established while on this Course. Such relationships will go a long way to foster bilateral relations and long-standing military cooperation. May I also acknowledge our colleagues from paramilitary agencies including Ministries Departments and Agencies namely; the Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Correctional Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. I salute your courage, perseverance and will to succeed despite the fact that your operating environments may not share some of the similarities you find in a military setting. I believe you must have learnt so much from your experience while on this course.
10. Let me at this juncture, extend my sincere appreciation to your spouses, who in your absence kept the home front running effectively. To them, I say thank you for their understanding and endurance. To members of the Directing Staff, I commend your efforts in transforming these young gentlemen and ladies from the raw materials they were some 23 weeks ago to the present refined products that we have before us this morning. I have no doubt that your Commandant has done his best to provide a conducive environment for you to perform your studies within the limits of available resources.
11. Finally, I congratulate the Commandant and the entire staff of the College for successfully turning out yet another batch of graduates of this great institution. To everyone seated in this hall, I thank you for gracing this occasion. May God grant you all journey mercies as you travel back to your various destinations. Once again, thank you and God bless.