To Stay Ahead, Nigerian Military Must Embrace Innovation — CNS
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has called on the Armed Forces of Nigeria to adopt a culture of innovation and adaptability to effectively respond to the country’s evolving security threats.
Speaking through the Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, Ogalla made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the Second Quarter 2025 Defence Headquarters and Services Transformation Seminar.
Themed “Transforming the Future: Leveraging Lessons Learned to Build a More Adaptive and Innovative Military,” the seminar focused on the need for institutional learning, doctrinal evolution, and modernisation across the services.
Ogalla stressed that the increasing complexity of Nigeria’s security environment demands a strategic shift in how the military thinks, plans, and operates. He said the armed forces must continuously refine doctrines and implement adaptive measures to remain ahead in an ever-changing battlefield.
“This year’s theme underscores the value of learning from past operations, refining our structures, and implementing forward-thinking strategies,” the CNS said.
“It aligns with the Chief of Defence Staff’s vision to entrench a proactive defence culture that positions us to respond to both present and emerging threats.”
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He added that the seminar should reinforce the collective resolve of military leaders to embrace innovation as a core enabler of national defence.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Naval Transformation, Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere represented by Rear Admiral John Okeke said the seminar was structured to foster meaningful discourse on improving the armed forces’ operational and administrative effectiveness.
“To remain operationally effective, we must institutionalise lessons from the past and consciously build a military that is adaptive and innovative,” Unurhiere said. “The goal is to stimulate critical thinking, encourage knowledge sharing, and generate actionable recommendations for joint transformation.”
On the sidelines, the Director of Transformation at Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Habila Zakaria, highlighted the need for strategy evolution in the face of changing threats. He said the doctrine and modus operandi of the military must also shift to counter dynamic security challenges.
“The threats we face are no longer static. Our responses must reflect that reality,” Zakaria said.
The seminar brought together top military officers and defence policymakers to chart a course for a more agile and future-ready Nigerian military.
By PRNigeria
