By TINA TIMOTHY

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the valour and bravery of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). He made the commendation over the weekend at the graduation ceremony of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji Senior Course 46 in Kaduna State. Tinubu was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, who addressed the 240 participants who passed through a 50-week rigorous training.

The Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, disclosed in a statement on Saturday, July 27, 2024 that the President urged the foreign participants from other Africa countries to amongst other things, “remember lessons learnt, support one another and strive for unity and cooperation,” and also called on all the graduands to collaborate to counter insecurity, most of which are “asymmetric and transborder involving mainly non-state actors.”

The statement read: "The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has saluted the valour and bravery of the members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). He stated this today, 27 July 2024 at the graduation ceremony of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji Senior Course 46.

“The President who was represented at the occasion by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa also commended the college’s commitment to professional development of the AFN which he noted “is essential to the security and stability of Nigeria as well as West Africa Sub-region and beyond”. Speaking further, Mr President said the College fosters an invaluable networking opportunity for future operational collaboration.

“The President called on the Foreign graduands to always remember the bonds forged and lessons learnt, keep the spirit alive, support one another and strive for unity and cooperation. He also urged the graduates to note that “Most security challenges facing the world are both asymmetric and transborder involving mainly non-state actors. He added that the training will afford participants the opportunity to know how to counter such threats.”

While noting that the past one year has been challenging, the President further assured the AFN of the federal government’s support “to enhancing national security as well as a vision for a safe, secure, prosperous and strong nation.”

The statement continued: “He however noted that the past one year has been particularly challenging for the nation, but through the efforts of the military and other security agencies, the government has shown commitment to enhancing national security as well as a vision for a safe, secure, prosperous and strong nation. He maintained that AFN is working tirelessly to enhance its combat effectiveness, operational capabilities and training necessary to eliminate the threat together with other stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, a remodelled Joint Studies office Complex named after the CDS was commissioned by him during the occasion.

“The Chief of Defence Staff during the occasion commissioned a remodelled Joint Studies office Complex named after him. The College which has been in existence since 1970 had a total of 240 participants as senior course 46 who passed through a 50-week rigorous training. Amongst the students are foreign participants from other Africa countries,” the statement read.