Nigeria, Rwanda Plan Military Cadet Exchanges, Expanded Counterterrorism Training
Nigeria, Rwanda Plan Military Cadet Exchanges, Expanded Counterterrorism Training
Nigeria, Rwanda Plan Military Cadet Exchanges, Expanded Counterterrorism Training
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has proposed expanded military cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda, including cadet exchange programmes, counterterrorism training and defence industrial collaboration to strengthen bilateral relations and regional security.
The proposals were made on Monday, October 19, 2026, during Shaibu’s official working visit to Rwanda, where he held discussions with the Army Chief of Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Major General Vincent Nyakarundi.
The initiatives include plans for two Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) cadets to undergo a four-year training programme at the Rwanda Military Academy, alongside reciprocal training opportunities for Rwandan cadets.
Shaibu disclosed that the Nigerian Army would begin arrangements for the proposed cadet training programme to deepen existing cooperation between the two armies.
He also proposed expanded personnel exchanges and pre-deployment training for peace support operations through the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC).
Additional areas of cooperation identified by the COAS include logistics, Military Police training, and the exchange of operational experiences in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency.
He stressed the importance of leveraging the expertise of both armies to address emerging security threats, improve operational readiness and promote regional peace and stability.
On defence industrial development, Shaibu called for closer collaboration between the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and relevant Rwandan defence engineering and procurement institutions to advance local military equipment production, technology development and self-reliance.
The Army Chief also paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, particularly the 600 personnel who defended Kigali during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He described their resilience and patriotism as enduring lessons in national resolve and military leadership.
In his response, Major General Nyakarundi commended the Nigerian Army for providing specialised Military Police and intelligence training to Rwandan personnel.
He called for expanded professional military education through institutions such as the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Army War College Nigeria and National Defence College.
Nyakarundi welcomed the proposed cadet exchanges and defence industrial collaboration, describing Shaibu’s visit as a demonstration of growing mutual trust and professional solidarity between the two armies.
The proposed initiatives are expected to provide a framework for strengthening military training, operational cooperation and defence production between Nigeria and Rwanda.
Nigeria, Rwanda Plan Military Cadet Exchanges, Expanded Counterterrorism Training
