The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General AK Ibrahim OFR, has reaffirmed NDA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with French Military Academy, École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr, (ESM) particularly in the areas of military education, leadership development, and language exchange.
He made this known on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, during the visit of the Commandant of the ESM, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Charpy to the NDA Headquarters, Afaka, Kaduna.
The high-level visit, which also include the French Defence Attaché, Colonel Stephane Uséo, and two senior officers, Colonel Bertrand Peytavin and Lieutenant Colonel Raphaël Chauvancy, was aimed at deepening existing ties between both institutions and exploring new avenues for collaboration.
In his address, Major General Ibrahim expressed appreciation for the long-standing cooperation between the two, noting that both institutions share a common mission of nurturing disciplined, skilled, and visionary military leaders.
“The NDA places a high premium on international cooperation, as it provides our cadets and officers with a broader perspective on leadership and operational excellence,” he further stated that Nigeria ,being a country with French speaking neighboring countries has made it imperative for members of the armed forces to have a working knowledge of the French language to aid interaction especially during joint operations.
General Ibrahim further noted that sustained engagement with the French Military Academy remains vital in enhancing training standards and fostering mutual understanding between the two countries. He traced the over 6 decades history of NDA , stating that over 20,000 officers have graduated from the academy mainly Nigerians but with about 500 from Allied countries in Africa and beyond. The academy currently has allied cadets from 14 countries undergoing training.
Earlier, Lieutenant General Charpy commended the NDA for its robust training structure and academic programmes. He described the visit as an opportunity to exchange ideas and identify areas of mutual benefit, particularly in cadet training, language immersion, and leadership development.
“The ESM and the NDA share a similar mission to build leaders of character and competence. This visit marks another step toward strengthening the bridge of cooperation between our institutions,” General Charpy stated.
The Director of Military Training (DMT), Brigadier General T Ahmed, briefed the delegation on the NDA’s training structure and evolving curriculum, designed to produce disciplined, intellectually sound, and combat-ready officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
As part of the visit, the French delegation undertook a guided tour to the French Language Laboratory and the NDA Hall of Fame. They also observed practical training period, such as a drill by Fifth Term cadets and Physical Training period, an obstacle-crossing by Fourth Term cadets, showcasing the Academy’s emphasis on physical fitness, endurance, and teamwork.
The day’s activities concluded with a Gala Nite held in honour of the visiting delegation. It was graced by military and civilian staff of the NDA as well as the NDAOWA Coordinator , Mrs Halima Ibrahim and her deputy amoung other dignitaries.The event featured cultural dance troupes of the Igbos, Tiv’s and Kanuri as well as the NDA dance band.
Delivering the vote of thanks at the end of the day’s activities, the Deputy Commandant of the NDA, Air Vice Marshal (AVM)A Abdulkadir, expressed profound gratitude to the Commandant of the ESM and his entourage for graciously sparing their time to attend all the activities lined up during their visit. He further appreciated the kind invitation extended to the NDA Commandant to visit the French Military Academy, noting that the NDA will take full advantage of the opportunity as a benchmark visit aimed at strengthening mutual learning and cooperation between both institutions. AVM Abdulkadir also extended his sincere thanks to the Commandant of the NDA for approving the visit of the French delegation to NDA, and for the warm reception accorded them. He acknowledged with deep appreciation the efforts of all Academy staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the visit, describing their dedication as a true reflection of the Academy’s spirit of excellence and teamwork.
Other highlights of the French visit to NDA include inspection of the Quarter Guard and the signing NDA visitors’ book by the visiting Commandant of ESM, exchange of souvenirs, as well as group photograph.
MOHAMMED MAIDAWA
Major
Academy Public Relations Officer
