Participants of the Cameroonian Higher Security Studies Course 8 and Security Forces Senior Staff Course 11 on International Study Tour (IST) visited the Army War College (AWCN)on 15 June, 2022.The 48 – man team led by the team leader, Brig Gen Bitote Andre’ Patrice were received by the Commandant AWCN Maj Gen BA Alabi, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant/ Director of Studies, Brig Gen UM Alkali.
Speaking at the occasion, the team leader, Brig Gen Bitote, said his team are from a public establishment borne out of the vision of Cameroonian President Mr Paul Biya, to offer Cameroonians, Africa and the world an innovative training and research institution for security and peace support professionals at tactical, operational and strategic levels.
He said the Cameroonian College since its establishment in 2008, has been relentlessly implementing its training and research mission and to date have benefited nearly 6000 civilians, Police and Gendermarine officers from more than 20 African countries and elsewhere including Nigeria. He added that alongside short term training in security and peacekeeping, the Higher Security Studies Course is one of the long courses organised for senior police and Gendemarine officers.
The Head of the delegation further said the essence of the IST is to enforce the College international status and develop it’s network of partnership. He added that Nigeria was chosen as destination of visit due to the rich and suitable geopolitical, geostrategic and geo-economics features which would enable the participants enrich their theoretical theory.
Responding on behalf of the Comdt AWCN, the Dy Comdt/DOS AWCN Brig Gen UM Alkali expressed delight over the choice of AWCN as one of the destinations for their study tour. In his words” We are happy to see you, whoever comes to your house he means well for you, we are happy that you decided to choose AWCN amongst thousands of Institutions in Nigeria as one of your destinations of visit”
The Deputy Commandant added that the essence of the 2 Colleges which revolves around improving capacity as well as providing solutions to counter contemporary security challenges in our various nations are basically the same.
He added that both Nigeria and Cameroon are faced with germane security threat. He urged the participants to take the study tour and their own study very serious as the myriads of security problems require them as future operational leaders to understand the dynamics of conflict to be able to proffer solutions.
Brig Gen UM Alkali who talked on the philosophy behind exchange of students amongst nations saying, it gives room to tap from each other’s experience in tackling similar and collective security arrangement. He quoted one of the sayings of a well-known US/UK Commander ” When you are tackling security situation, some of the solutions you are looking for might not lie in the army, but may lie in other security forces”
He said the AWCN, in recognition of the importance of interagency collaboration, which he said is a renown tenets of international security, the College trains military officers alongside Police and other security agencies as well as Ministries Departments and agencies.” That is why in here in AWCN we train with the NPF and other security agencies so that we foster the inter-agency cooperation” the Dy Comdt added.
Highlights of the visit include a brief on activities of AWCN, an interactive session, presentation of souvenirs, group photograph and guided facility tour of the College. AWCN has since inception in 2017 trained officers from Allied Nations from Cameroon, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Republic of Niger, Gambia, Togo and Rwanda. This is in addition to selected personnel from Ministries Departments and Agencies of Nigeria.
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