Security Challenges Facing Nigeria Require Intellectual Expertise, Unparalleled Leadership Abilities – GOC 2 Division

*Nigerian Army flags off Operational Planning Cadre in Ibadan

By; BAYO AKAMO, IBADAN

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife has disclosed that the security challenges facing the country demands application of intellectual expertise matched with unparalleled leadership abilities

Major Gen. Nnebeife stated this on Tuesday, at the flagging off of the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division Headquarters 2025 Operational Planning Cadre for middle cadre officers held at the Headquarters Auditorium, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.

He stressed that there is the need for officers to combine physical strength with intellectual strategy in tackling contemporary security challenges

Major Gen. Nnebeife maintained that the success of every military campaign ” is deeply rooted in foresight, careful planning, and deliberate execution”.

” The success of every military campaign is deeply rooted in foresight, careful planning, and deliberate execution. The contemporary security challenges bedevilling our dear nation today demand not just physical strength accentuated by courage, but the application of intellectual expertise matched with unparalleled leadership abilities,” he said

Major General Nnebeife added, ” The operational plans you draft or formulate have a direct correlation with the end-state of every mission objective. Hence, the success or otherwise of any operation depends largely on your ability to read the battlefield environment and apply yourselves adequately,”

” Leadership in the 21st-century military is not just about commanding troops but about making informed decisions in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments. Your ability to translate broad strategic objectives into actionable plans that your men could easily execute with clarity and confidence also reflects on your leadership”.

The GOC 2 Division stressed that the middle-level officers serve as the critical link between strategic leaders and tactical operatives, making their roles crucial in translating vision into action.

Commending the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, for his continuous support and provision of resources to conduct the training, Major General Nnebeife emphasized the importance of foresight, deliberate planning, and informed execution in military operations.

Stressing that the cadre was specifically designed to refresh officers’ knowledge of operational planning principles, while also equipping them with modern analytical skills and a shared understanding of today’s multi-dimensional battlespace, he

highlighted the diverse nature of modern military engagements, ranging from counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and anti-banditry operations to civil-military cooperation and peacekeeping missions.

While urging participants to engage resource persons drawn from Nigerian Army training institutions, the Nigerian Air Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS), he stressef the importance of discipline, seriousness, and open-mindedness throughout the cadre.

The GOC also commended the officers and soldiers of 2 Division for their dedication in organizing the programme, while reiterating appreciation to the Chief of Training and Army Headquarters for their guidance and support

This year’s cadre, themed “Enhancing Operational Efficiency through Effective Planning and Leadership,” seeks to sharpen the capacity of officers in designing and executing plans that directly impact mission success.