The Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has commended the Namibian Command and Staff College for its efforts in promoting defence education and strengthening security cooperation across the African continent.
In an official statement signed by the AD (Information and Public Relations), Enderline Chukwu, the Minister gave the commendation when he received a 26-member delegation from the Namibian Command and Staff College (Course 05/2025), led by the Commandant, Brigadier Benhard Erastus, during a study tour to Nigeria. The delegation was hosted at Ship House, Abuja, the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.
Represented at the meeting by the Director, Joint Service Department, Mrs. Bosede Olaniyi, Minister Badaru reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share experiences and deepen partnerships with Namibia and other African nations in pursuit of peace and stability on the continent. He recalled the strong historical bonds between Nigeria and Namibia, particularly Nigeria’s contributions to Africa’s liberation struggles, noting that those ties remain the foundation for present-day cooperation.
He further emphasised the importance of African unity, warning against external forces seeking to divide the continent. According to him, “togetherness is essential to prevent external forces intent on dividing Africa.”
In his response, Brigadier Erastus expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government and the Ministry of Defence for the warm reception accorded the delegation. He noted that the team chose Nigeria for the study visit in recognition of its leadership role in regional security, adding that the visit provided an opportunity to learn from Nigeria’s experiences in defence policy, civil-military relations, and regional security operations.
He stressed that such engagements are crucial for Namibia as defence and security studies underpin sustainable economic development.
As part of the programme, the delegation received a presentation on the Ministry of Defence architecture by the Joint Service Department, followed by an interactive session. The visit ended with the presentation of a plaque of honour by the Namibian delegation, which was received on behalf of the Ministry by Mrs. Olaniyi.
