Nigerian Defence Academy

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).

Nigerian Defence Academy
N.D.A.
Motto"Loyalty and valour"
TypeMilitary Academy
EstablishedFebruary 1964
CommandantMajor General John Ochai
Students~3,500
Location
Kaduna
,
Nigeria
CampusAfaka and Ribadu
BattalionsRegular Cadet Battalions: Burma, Mogadishu, Abyssinia, and Dalet (Defunct Companies: Cameroon, Nigeria) Short Service Cadet Companies: Colito, Tamandu & Ashanti
ColorsGreen and red   
Websitewww.nda.edu.ng

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]

Military structure
  • Headquarters
  • Directorate of Military Training
  • Directorate of Administration[3]
    • NDA Hospital
    • NDA Provost Command
    • Administration Battalion
    • 92 MIR
    • 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion[4]
    • NDA Band
    • Religious Affairs Department
    • Legal Department
    • Civilian Personnel Unit
    • NDA National Youth Service Corps
  • Directorate of ICT
  • Directorate of Logistics
  • Cadet Brigade
  • Directorate of Coordination
  • Directorate of Finance

Academics

Academic structure
  • School of Postgraduate Studies
  • Undergraduate Admission
  • Postgraduate Admission
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Art and Social Science
  • Faculty of Military Science
  • Faculty of Management Science

Academic Library

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).

NDA Anthem
LyricsMajor J. E. Evans
MusicCaptain Ime Tom Obong

NDA Anthem
Lyrics[8]
Academy, my academy, our academy.

Academy mother of African warriors.

Academy of wonders, fascination and adventures.

Academy mother of all Generals, Admirals and Air Marshals.

You indeed are the cradle of service with courage conviction and victory.

Academy of indelible memories, dreams and visions.

Academy Academy, in you I realized my potentials and in you I am what I am.

Forever the academy, long live the academy

Forever the Nigerian Defence Academy…

Commandants

Below is the chronological list of NDA Commandants:

  1. Brigadier M.R. Varma (1964 – 1969) (Indian national and 1st Commandant of the NDA)
  2. Major General David Ejoor (January 1969 – January 1971) (1st Nigerian Commandant)
  3. Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (January 1971 – March 1971)
  4. Major General Eyo Okon Ekpo (March 1971 – February 1975)
  5. Brigadier Illiya Bisalla (February 1975 – August 1975)
  6. Brigadier Gibson Jalo (August 1975 – January 1978)
  7. Brigadier E.S. Armah (January 1978 – July 1978)
  8. Brigadier Joseph Garba (July 1978 – July 1979)
  9. Brigadier Zamani Lekwot (July 1979 – 1982)
  10. Brigadier Abdullahi Shelleng (1982 – January 1984)
  11. Major General Paul Tarfa (January 1984 – 1985)
  12. Major General Peter Adomokai (1986 – 1988)
  13. Lieutenant General Salihu Ibrahim (1988 – 1990)
  14. Lieutenant General Garba Duba (1990 – February 1992)
  15. Lieutenant General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (February 1992 – January 1993)
  16. Lieutenant General Mohammed Balarabe Haladu (January 1993 – 1994)
  17. Air Marshal Al-Amin Daggash (1994 – June 1998)
  18. Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (June 1998 – 1999)
  19. Major General Thaddeus Ashei (2000 – 2002)
  20. Major General Okon Edet Okon (2002 – 2003)
  21. Major General Patrick Ademu Akpa (2003 – 2004)
  22. Lieutenant General Abel Akale (2004 – 2006)
  23. Major General Harris Dzarma (2006 – August 2008)
  24. Major General Mamuda Yerima (August 2008 – August 2010)
  25. Major General Emeka Onwuamaegbu (August 2010 – December 2013)[9]
  26. Major General Muhammad Inuwa Idris (December 2013 – August 2015)
  27. Major General Mohammed Tasiu Ibrahim (August 2015 – October 2017)
  28. Major General Adeniyi Oyebade (October 2017 – November 2019)
  29. Major General Jamilu Sarham (November 2019 – March 2021)
  30. Major General Sagir Yaro (March 2021 – April 2021)
  31. Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf (April 2021 – June 2023)
  32. Major General John Ochai (June 2023 – present)

Alumni

References
  1. Welcome page, NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY, www.nigeriandefenceacademy.edu.ng (2008), accessed 2009-04-20
  2. Ahmadu-Suka, Maryam. "General Jamilu takes over as 29th NDA Commandant". Daily Trust. Daily Trust.
  3. "Directorate of Administration - Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna - Nigeria". 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  4. Abuchi, Joe (2022-02-28). "COAS operationalize 37 NDA Demonstration battalion". THE AUTHORITY NEWS. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  5. "Academy Library - Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna - Nigeria". 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  6. Lekwot, Z. (1989). The Nigerian Defense Academy in Perspective. pp. P45-49.
  7. "Academy Library - Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna - Nigeria". 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  8. "Academy Anthem - Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna - Nigeria". 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  9. "Shake up in the military". The Nation. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
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