National Defence College unveils book on Lt.-Gen. Obiakor

The National Defence College (NDC) on Friday, unveiled the Strategic Leadership Biography on Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor, titled “Rough Road to Peace” as its leadership series.

The Commandant of NDC, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, said the leadership series was part of the NDC Centre for Strategic Research and Studies work plan activities.

Bashir said the college had an important and long-growing module on strategic leadership in its flagship higher defence and strategies studies course.

He said the centre had in 2017 conceived the idea of a strategic leadership study series to facilitate the module and in keeping with its academic and research support role to the college.

The idea, according to him, was one of the key lines of effort in the centre’s work plan for 2018-2020, which was approved by the College Board in December 2017.

The commandant said the series was conceived to produce biographies, memoirs and monographs that document the professional experiences of selected, serving or retired military and civilian personalities in strategic leadership positions in Nigeria to draw lessons for posterity.

The aim, he said, was to promote values of strategic leadership garnered from the lives and careers of strategic leaders to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nigeria’s participation in international peacekeeping and peace support operations, which began in 1960.

According to him, the first two publications focus on two very senior retired Nigerian army officers like one on Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, and today the college is launching the biography of Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor.

“It is pertinent to say that Gen. Agwai became the first commander of the hybrid United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur while Lt.-Gen. Obiakor served as the first commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

“The book, “Rough road to peace” is the second publication in the series that chronicles the life and career of retired senior Nigerian army officers for which we are gathered here today.

“Lt.-Gen. Obiakor had a distinguished career in the Nigerian army where he rose to the top hierarchy and also played prominent roles at the international scene.

“He served as Deputy Force commander and force commander in various peacekeeping missions in Africa and as the first Nigerian to occupy and perform in the substance of military adviser at the United Nations.

“I, therefore, want to thank the general for agreeing to share his vision, experiences and lessons that lends credence to a comprehensive biographical exploration of the NDC’s theme of strategic leadership which made it possible for this book launch today,” he said.

Bashir commended the efforts of the authors and research team that worked for the successful completion of the book.

(NAN)

National Defence College unveils book on Lt.-Gen. Obiakor