KIGALI — In a display of strengthening bilateral military relations, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) welcomed a delegation of 15 senior officers from the Nigerian National Defence College to its headquarters in Kimihurura on Tuesday.
The delegation has embarked on a comprehensive six-day study tour in Rwanda, with a unique focal point: examining the intersections of ecotourism, post-conflict transformation, and overarching national development policies.
Gen MK Mubarakh, the RDF Chief of Defence Staff, formally received the visiting officers, expressing his gratitude to the Nigerian National Defence College for selecting Rwanda as their study destination. He highlighted the robust, ongoing cooperation between the armed forces of both nations, particularly in the realm of military capacity building.
“I would like to reaffirm the Rwanda Defence Force’s commitment to strengthening existing cooperation with the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the National Defence College, in training, education, and exchange programs,” Gen Mubarakh stated during his welcoming address.
Brig Gen Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence, underscored the strategic value of the visit. He noted that such study tours foster vital opportunities for both nations to share practical experiences and deepen their mutual understanding of contemporary security challenges facing the African continent.
As part of their educational briefing, the Nigerian officers and staff were presented with a detailed overview of the RDF’s profound institutional transformation following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Grounding their academic tour in Rwanda’s history, the delegation also paid their respects at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and toured the Campaign Against the Genocide Museum.
Commodore Ebo Adegoke Timothy, who is leading the Nigerian delegation, commended the RDF and the Rwandan government for their remarkable strides in national transformation and socio-economic recovery.
He expressed deep appreciation for the candid learning opportunities provided by senior RDF leadership, emphasizing that the insights gained will significantly aid the students in understanding how Rwanda has successfully leveraged good governance and ecotourism to drive national development.
Over the remainder of their six-day visit, the delegation is scheduled to tour various sites across Rwanda, gathering empirical insights to inform their academic research on security, sustainable development, and national resilience.
