By Mumini AbdulKareem
The Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete has blazed the trail with the establishment of the Institute of Advanced Military Studies (IAMS) in the country.
The centre, which has been scheduled to take off next semester is the first of its kind by any university in the continent.
The institute will award doctorate degree of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Advanced Military Studies and will be independently sustained outside the funding of government.
Addressing a press conference at the institution’s premises in Malete on Friday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah said the institute is an interdisciplinary studies that will attract top notch retired military personnel who will provide cutting edge intellectual discuss that will help to deconstruct the narrative of militarism and insurgency in the country.
He said in today’s world, intellectualism, 21st century electronics technology and better ideas are the superior players and facilities that ensures successes and Kwara State adding that Nigeria cannot afford to be left out.
Na’Allah described the institute as Pan-African and not a technical military school but an academic, intellectual and interdisciplinary institute which will bring top military personnel and civilians to the classroom to teach interested students.
According to him, the process of establishment took four years with a very rigorous planning that led to the appointment of its pioneer Director, Prof. Ademola Araoye.
“Our aim at the end of the day is to ensure peaceful state, Nigeria, Africa and the world, where military tradition will be to affirm developmental commitment for the world and leave nobody behind in sustainable development goals as highlighted by the United Nations.
“Institutes with mandate to study military affairs are very few globally, besides NIPSS and Institute of Strategic Studies in South Africa, there is no mention of an academic and degree awarding institution at any level in Africa. It is a little surprising that no such institute is reported even in Asia, Indian, Pakistan and China. Whatever the cases, KWASU is pioneering this in Africa.”
He added that KWASU will partner other universities in the world like the Mercy University, New Zealand and University of Adelaide in Australia among others with similar institutions.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Education (NASE), Nuhu Filibus Umar, said the military considers the education of its officers central in order to respond to contemporary challenges in the country.
He made this known during the matriculation ceremony of the school at the Army headquarters, Ilorin on Friday.
He said a lot was done to upgrade the school from NCE to degree awarding institution adding that the affiliation with Tai Solarin School of Education was a step in the right direction which has ensured the success story of the programme.
According to him, NASE was established on three tripod mandate to teach languages and fight illiteracy, map reading which is a very important aspect of the military education and thirdly the Army Certificate in Education to brush up soldiers and officers that were literate but needed more training to be educationally qualified as instructors.
Over 331 students were matriculated comprising of 204 degree and 124 NCE including 30 civilians that enrolled for the programme.
At the event were Dean School of Post Graduate Studies, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Prof. Joseph Olusanya who represented his Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Origbabo and Brig. (Gen) Maina Kadia of 2 Division Director of Education who represented the GOC.
