The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is a military university based in
Kaduna, Nigeria that trains
officer cadets for commissioning into one of the three services of the
Nigerian Armed Forces: the
Army, the
Navy, and the
Air Force. The duration of training at the Nigerian Defence Academy is five years (four years academic and one year military).
History
The NDA was established in February 1964 as a reformation of the British run Royal Military Forces Training College (RMFTC), which had been renamed the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) on independence. The military institution trains the officer corps of the
Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force. The initial class had only 62
cadets, and the trainers were mostly officers in the
Indian Army. The Nigerian National Defence Academy (NDA) follows the pattern of similar NDA in Khadakwasla, Pune, India. The first commandant of NDA was
Indian Army Brigadier M.R Verma. The NDA grew to an all Nigerian training staff only in 1978.[1]
In 1981 itself began bilateral training of foreign militaries. In 1985 the academy commenced offering undergraduate programmes to Military Officers In Training and now also currently offers post graduate studies both for
Msc and
Ph.D for both military and civilian students alike. The central mission remains the training of young officer cadets in the 5 year "Regular Combatant Course" in which cadets are groomed in Military, Academic and Character development to instill discipline and leadership skills according to global best practices, culminating in the award of a bachelor's degree and presidential commissioning into the rank of
second lieutenant for Army cadets or equivalent in the Navy and Air Force for respective cadets. Until 2011 this course used to be exclusively for males, the first set of female cadets commenced training in September 2011. As of 2019, its total cadet class is around 2500.[1]
Organization
Administration
The current Commandant is
Major General John Ochai. He took over from Major Gen Ibrahim Manu Yusuf.[2]
Nigerian Defence Academy
Library is the main Library that support both teaching and military training. The library acquired and developed information resources that meet the information needs of cadets, faculty members, officers and civilians staff.[5] The academy library was launched at the end of 1963 to facilitate and enhance effective learning.[6] The Library was finally moved to the permanent site on the 16 of June 2009 for effective teaching and learning to meet the objectives and the current Academy
Librarian is Umar Lawal.[5][7]
Research Elements
Centre For Critical Thinking, Teaching and Learning
Centre for Defence Studies And Documentation
Academic Planning Unit
Research Methodology Office (RMO)
Directorate for Collaborations, Affiliations and Linkages
Student life
Cadet Brigade
The Cadet Brigade (CB) is one of the main organs of the NDA. There are a total of 2,990 Regular Combatant cadets in the Academy and 12 allied cadets from
Burkina-Faso,
Sierra Leone,
Republic of Congo,
Cameroon and
Liberia. The Brigade is commanded by an Army officer and is designated as the Cadets Brigade Commander (CBC). The CB comprises the following:
Headquarters
Mogadishu Battalion
Dalet Battalion
Abyssinia Battalion
Burma Battalion
Ashanti Battalion
Colito Battalion
Counseling Unit
Preparatory Wing
Valiant Magazine Office
NDA Band
The NDA Band is responsible for the provision of military music at regimental occasions such as POP, beating the retreat, dinner nights as well as dance band for social gatherings like wedding ceremonies, mess activities or as the circumstances dictate. The NDA Band headed by an Assistant Director of Music (ADOM).