The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has said Nigeria’s university system is central to strengthening national defence and building long‑term strategic resilience.
Musa stated this while delivering the Convocation Lecture at the Combined Convocation Ceremony of Akwa Ibom State University, held at the university’s main campus in Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area.
Highlighting the changing character of contemporary threats, General Musa said that terrorism, cyber warfare and other asymmetric challenges have redefined national defence in the 21st century.
This contained in a statement by Queeneth Iheoma-Hart , the ministry of Defence Chief information officer for Director Information and PR.
The defence minister told graduates, academics and dignitaries that modern national security must be knowledge‑driven and anchored in education, innovation, technology and human capacity.
“National defence today is not solely the preserve of the armed forces,” General Musa said. “It requires a whole‑of‑nation approach in which our universities play a strategic role; producing skilled manpower, advancing research and innovation, and cultivating the values that underpin stability and cohesion.”
According to him, it is imperative deepening collaboration between the defence establishment, government and the academic community to confront evolving security challenges and prevent them from festering.
He stressed the need for an improve and sustain investment in education in order to continuously align academic programmes with national security priorities, particularly in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data systems.
He also said that structured partnerships between universities and defence institutions is important building a modern, self‑reliant and responsive national security architecture.
Stressing that national defence is a collective responsibility that goes beyond the Armed Forces, Gen Musa said it is for all sectors of society, and education sector must play it role.
General Musa charged the graduating students to embrace their responsibilities as future leaders and nation builders, urging them to uphold discipline, pursue innovation and demonstrate a strong sense of duty in contributing to Nigeria’s stability, progress and prosperity.