By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Olufemi Oluyede, has assured the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, of enhanced collaboration between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country’s foremost policy and strategic think tank, as part of efforts to develop sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s security and development challenges.
The assurance was given on Thursday, 18 December 2025, when the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, paid a courtesy visit to the CDS at his office. The engagement was disclosed in an official statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samalia Uba.
Speaking during the visit, General Oluyede commended NIPSS for its longstanding contributions to national development, particularly in the cultivation of strategic-level manpower and research-driven policy formulation. He described the Institute’s focus on transformational research and development as timely and critical, especially in view of Nigeria’s evolving security and governance landscape.
The CDS expressed satisfaction with the Institute’s ongoing efforts and affirmed the readiness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to partner with NIPSS in developing practical and forward-looking solutions to the nation’s current challenges. He emphasised that stronger civil-military collaboration in policy research and strategic thinking remains essential to national stability and progress.
As an alumnus of the National Institute and a member of its Board of Governors, General Oluyede reiterated the unflinching support of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to NIPSS in all areas necessary for the Institute to effectively discharge its mandate. He assured that the military would continue to provide institutional backing to strengthen the Institute’s capacity and relevance.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of NIPSS, Professor Omotayo, expressed deep appreciation to the CDS and the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country’s unity and security. He briefed the CDS on an ongoing initiative being developed in partnership with the Nigerian Army, aimed at producing actionable solutions to national challenges, and appealed for increased support from the Armed Forces to ensure the success of the project.
Professor Omotayo also disclosed plans to reposition NIPSS as a leading African think tank dedicated to the incubation and development of transformational ideas that can shape policy across the continent. He therefore sought the sustained support of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to fully realise this vision.
In addition, the NIPSS Director General called for continued assistance to improve the teaching and learning environment at the Institute, stressing that a more conducive academic atmosphere would further enhance the quality of strategic research and policy output.
The visit underscored a shared commitment by both institutions to deepen collaboration in research, strategic thinking and capacity development, in pursuit of a more secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria.
