A total of eleven (11) countries including Mali, South Africa, Senegal, Gabon and Guinea are participating in the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) Senior Leaders Course at the National Defence College (NDC), from December 11 to December 20, 2017 with Commandant NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo declaring that it is a pro-active measure in handling conflict.
Other countries participating in the leadership course are Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gabon, Cape Verde, Togo, and Guinea Bissau.
According to a statement signed by Commander Edward Yeibo, spokesman of the College, “The aim of the course is to enhance the capacity of the ECOWAS management level staff and participants of the Senior Mission Leaders’ Course to play their respective roles successfully in contemporary Peace Support Operations.
“The Centre for Strategic Research and Studies of the NDC Nigeria in collaboration with the Government of Germany, United Nations Training Service and the Department of Peace Keeping and Regional Security of the ECOWAS Commission is holding the ECOWAS Senior Mission Leaders Course from 11-20 December 2017.
Speaking on the course, Rear Admiral Osinowo expressed satisfaction with the existing collaboration between NDC, the Government of Germany and the Department of Peacekeeping and Regional Security of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).
“The objective of the Senior Mission Leaders course is to provide participants with an understanding of the importance of cooperation, communication, consensus and integration required for the effective functioning of the Senior Leadership Team, create an understanding of the capabilities and limitation of the various components of Peace Keeping Operations.
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“Other objectives include providing an understanding for the underpinning legal framework of ECOWAS/African Union (AU)/United Nations (UN) Peace Operations and the attendant integrated mission planning process and also to provide an understanding of the responsibilities and roles of the Senior Leadership Team in placing effective leadership of personnel employed in Peace Support Operation, amongst others.
Furthermore, the NDC Commandant, in his remarks said, “The 7th Senior Mission Leadership course came at an opportune time due to the dynamic nature of contemporary conflicts in Africa, which continue to pose a great challenge to the management of Peace Support Operations”.
He reiterated that AU, ECOWAS and other regional organizations have identified strategic leadership capability as very vital to the success of any mission, adding that it is key to development process.
He therefore, urged participants to be actively involved and make themselves available for constructive deliberations in their respective syndicates.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Provost Centre for Strategic Research and Studies who doubles as the Director of Studies at the Senior Mission Leaders’ Course disclosed that a total of 150 Senior Leaders have been trained so far and have either served or are still serving in various peace missions within the continent and beyond.
Reiterating that Africa has learnt to be more proactive in addressing conflicts within the continent, the Provost emphasized the kind gesture of the Government of Germany in providing the necessary fund for the delivery of the Senior Mission Leaders Course.
The Course Director, Lt. General J Owonibi (rtd), Dr. Remi Ajibewa amongst other dignitaries graced the inauguration of the Senior Mission Leaders’ Course held at the Abubakar Abdulsalami Abubakar Building, NDC Abuja.
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