NDC seeks TETFund’s support for research, AI-driven curriculum reform
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, has appealed to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for enhanced support to strengthen the College’s research capabilities and overhaul its curriculum in line with emerging security threats and advancements in artificial intelligence.
Ahmed made the request during a high-level visit to the TETFund Headquarters in Abuja, where he and the Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering several collaborative initiatives.
The 22nd Commandant said the NDC is currently reviewing its curriculum with a focus on artificial intelligence, strategic thinking, and policy development to ensure it remains relevant to Nigeria’s dynamic security landscape. He expressed confidence that TETFund’s intervention would elevate the College to the global standards he envisions.
He further highlighted the College’s extensive role in strategic research and peer-reviewed journal publications across Africa, urging TETFund to support the production and sponsorship of these scholarly works. Ahmed also used the opportunity to commend the Fund for its infrastructural support to the NDC and other tertiary institutions nationwide.
In his remarks, Echono said the newly signed MoU spans broad areas of cooperation between the two institutions, noting the importance of supporting bodies like the NDC that drive research and contribute to national development. He paid tribute to members of the armed forces for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country.
Echono also recalled his longstanding association with the NDC dating back to his tenure as Director of Procurement in the Ministry of Defence between 2008 and 2009, when he was involved in key infrastructure projects for the College.
He explained that TETFund has expanded its research intervention areas to include a dedicated military and intelligence thematic category, established last year to strengthen Nigeria’s defence-related research ecosystem. He emphasised that many global scientific breakthroughs, including the widely used Global Positioning System (GPS), originated from military research.
Echono reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to supporting the NDC in advancing its intellectual contributions to national security beyond traditional kinetic operations, while exploring broader opportunities for the country’s growth and development.