By Ameh Gabriel
The British Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Major General Timothy Harper, has paid a courtesy visit to the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) in Abuja, reaffirming the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening military cooperation with Nigeria.
The visit, which took place at the College’s Conference Room, was announced on Friday in a statement by the Commandant of AWCN, Major General Umar Mohammed Alkali.
According to the statement, the purpose of the visit was to deepen mutual understanding, explore opportunities for collaboration in professional military education, and foster enduring bilateral defense relations.
During the visit, General Harper lauded the College for its rising reputation as a hub of excellence in operational-level leadership and strategic military training. He emphasized the UK’s readiness to support Nigeria’s security architecture through training partnerships, knowledge sharing, and joint defense education initiatives.
Responding, the Commandant, Major General Alkali, expressed gratitude for the UK’s consistent support to the Nigerian military, especially in areas such as counterterrorism, capacity building, and research development.
He also reiterated his command philosophy: “To consolidate AWCN as a professional military education centre of excellence,” highlighting the importance of global partnerships in achieving that vision.
General Alkali further stressed the relevance of integrating international perspectives into the College’s curriculum to build agile, strategic, and forward-thinking military leadership.
He concluded by affirming AWCN’s dedication to advancing professional military education and strengthening alliances with international partners in support of Nigeria’s national security objectives.
