By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Federal Government has pledged renewed support for the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), outlining measures to strengthen the institution’s capacity for military and civilian education, including plans to build Africa’s first Centre for Military Performance Management.
The commitment was made by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), during a meeting with members of the University’s Governing Council at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said Musa described NAUB as a strategic institution for producing the skilled manpower needed to address Nigeria’s changing security environment.
He said the Ministry of Defence would continue to support the university while partnering with the Armed Forces of Nigeria to ensure full utilisation of the 30 per cent admission quota set aside for military personnel.
According to the minister, the initiative is intended to bridge specialised skills gaps and encourage military personnel, ministry staff and members of the public to take advantage of the university’s modern academic and technological programmes.
“As the Federal Government pushes for a highly skilled workforce in this digital era, we must encourage members of the Armed Forces, ministry staff, and the general public to leverage the cutting-edge technological and academic solutions available at NAUB,” Musa said.
He said that both the ministry and the university’s Governing Council had agreed to prioritise critical infrastructure projects to improve learning and research at the institution.
One of the flagship projects is the proposed Centre for Military Performance Management, expected to become the first of its kind in Africa.
During the meeting, the leader of the delegation and Pioneer Pro-Chancellor of NAUB, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), lauded the Defence Minister for his leadership and strategic vision, saying his efforts have continued to strengthen the country’s defence architecture.
Buratai also thanked Musa for his unwavering support for the Armed Forces and expressed the university’s commitment to sustaining excellence in teaching, research and national service.
