By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as part of efforts to enhance national security through education-driven capacity building.
Shaibu made this known on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, when he received the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Udoma Oji Udoma, on a courtesy visit at the Army Headquarters, Abuja. He said the evolving nature of security threats makes it necessary to integrate academic knowledge with military operations.
According to him, modern warfare increasingly demands intellectual strength alongside operational capability, stressing the importance of incorporating studies in intelligence, cybersecurity, and strategic leadership into military training structures.
He described NOUN’s flexible, technology-based learning model as a valuable partner in the Army’s transformation agenda, noting that such collaboration would help produce a more professionally equipped and intellectually agile force capable of responding to asymmetric threats.
The Army Chief further stated that the Nigerian Army remains committed to institutional partnerships aimed at building capacity and strengthening national resilience, in line with its broader objective of safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of NOUN, Professor Udoma Oji Udoma, called for deeper cooperation between the institution and the Nigerian Army University Biu, while also proposing the establishment of additional study centres within military barracks nationwide to expand access to education for personnel.
He commended the Nigerian Army for its sustained efforts in maintaining national security and pledged the university’s continued support in developing well-trained and mission-ready military personnel through academic collaboration.
