Chief Of Army Staff Inaugurates Peacekeeping Centre Board Of Trustees, Unveils Nigeria Army Aviation Hangar

Chief Of Army Staff Inaugurates Peacekeeping Centre Board Of Trustees, Unveils Nigeria Army Aviation Hangar

Chief Of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai inaugurates board of trustees of Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre, unveils Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar in Kaduna state.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai has inaugurated the board of trustees of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peace Keeping Centre in Kaduna State, popularly known as the Centre of Excellence.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Army Chief noted that Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC) renamed Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre was established to harness the lessons learnt from Nigeria’s experiences in Peace Support Operation.

Read part of the COAS remarks delivered at the event:

“I am most delighted to be in your midst today as the Special Guest of Honour to inaugurate this important Board of Trustees of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre. Let me commence by thanking each and everyone here for making out time to be part of this event today despite your busy schedules. We are all aware that the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC) was established to harness the lessons from Nigeria’s experiences in Peace Support Operations (PSOs) over the years and to build capacity in PSO.

“The NAPKC was renamed Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) on 29 July 17. The renaming was intended to transform the Centre from a traditional NA training institution to a national and international centre for training of leaders, peacemakers and peace builders. The decision was underscored by the need to conform to global trend, reposition the centre to better support Nigeria’s growing efforts at global peace, as well as to create the right condition for the centre to collaborate more effectively with partners globally.

“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in my speech at the renaming ceremony of this centre, I directed the constitution of Board of Trustees (BoT) that will act on behalf of AHQ, pilot the affairs of the centre for an initial period of 4 years. The enormous responsibilities of transforming the centre to an international institution by galvanizing partners support for this purpose, necessitates that eminent personalities with internationally recognized reputation are appointed as members of the board. It is also desirable that the board members be individuals with links to the UN, AU, ECOWAS and other agencies”.

Members of the newly inaugurated Board include former Chief of Defence Staff General ML Agwai (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, Mrs Halima Ahmed from ECOWAS, Maj Gen OT Ethan (rtd), Commandant of the Centre Maj Gen AA Tarfa and Maj Gen Umelo Director Peacekeeping at the Army Headquarters as Secretary.

The Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy, General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Deputy Commandant Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Commandant of the Centre, Commander Infantry Corp, Commandant Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Commandant Warrant Officers Academy among other top military officers as well as representatives / team leaders of German Technical Assistant Team and British Military Advisory Technical Team attended the inauguration today 11 July 2019.

Furthermore, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt GenTukur Yusufu Buratai later unveiled phase one of the Nigerian Army Aviation Hangar located at Jaji airstrip, Jaji Military Cantoment, Kaduna State. 

He also visited Depot Nigerian Army and Nigerian Military School Zaria, where he inspected some completed and ongoing projects including a visit to the medical centre at the Depot Nigerian Army.

Among dignitaries that witnessed the commissioning were General Marthin Luther Agwai (Rtd) ,Comdt NDA Maj Gen A Oyebade ,Commander Infantry Corp Maj Gen SO Olabanji, Comdt Nigerian Army School of Infantry Maj Gen Ali-Keffi amongst others.