‘Partnership of the Military and the Gown, a platform for Nigeria to thrive’ – Major General Wahab affirms

Oluwatosin Adeoye

The Director General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, Major General Garba Wahab (Rtd) Ph.D has asserted that partnership between the military and the academia will create an enabling environment for other aspects of the country to thrive. He said this while speaking on the topic, ‘The Military and the Gown: Forging partnership for National Development’, at the Faculty Distinguished Personality Lecture, organized by the Faculty of Arts, hosted at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan today, Monday 29th July, 2024.

“According to Thucydides, the society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools,” he reiterated. “collaboration of the military and the academia can help Nigeria address emerging security threats effectively while contributing to the progress and development of the nation.” 

He added that this type of collaboration is not void of challenges; which he named to include the epileptic nature of universities in the country, depreciating infrastructure and equipment for cutting-edge research, paucity of finance, lack of accountability and transparency by stakeholder. 

Major Gen. Wahab also emphasized that the “government must develop consistent policies and public investments to support innovations emanating from this type of partnership”. Adding that the routine that every government emerging enacts new policies are not helpful to the security structure of the nation.

He highlighted that the military is putting efforts to reduce the reliance of the country’s civilian populace on the internet space, thereby creating local search engines and email hosting to improve the security infrastructure of Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chancelor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the Chairman of the event, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancelor Administration, Prof. Peter Olapegba affirmed that partnership of the military and the academia is crucial “if we are going to surmount the security issues we are facing” as a nation.

The Vice Chancellor, while delivering his opening remark, revealed that the military had collaborated with the university before the initiative of the lecture. This was corroborated when the distinguished guest lecturer asserted that some scholars have had their sabbatical appointments with military institutions.

The Dean of Arts, Professor S.O Oyetade, speaking at the event, affirms that the Faculty of Arts is a knowledge provider, advising the military on incorporation of other intercultural languages beyond the popular Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, and French. He maintained that the importance for collaboration cannot be overemphasized.

Also speaking at the personality lecture, the Special Guest of Honour, Major General Obinna Onubogu, General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Ibadan urged the management of the Faculty of Arts to work on value and character development in students, he mentioned that the Armed Forces had noticed indiscipline and other vices amongst some recruits from the academia.

The event had in attendance, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, DVC Research, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, Mr. G.O Saliu, Registrar, Dr. R.A Ojo, representative of The Librarian, Mr. Adekunle Jimoh, Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Ibadan,   Mrs. Emmanuel, Representative of the Director of EFCC, Professor Egbokhare, Faculty of Arts UI, ACC Alao Victoria, Civil Defense Corps, Deans of other faculties, and top officials from various walks of life.