By Joy Odor
ABUJA – The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has emphasized the need to build strong institutions as the bedrock of national stability and good governance, insisting that enduring systems, not strong individuals, sustain nations.
Speaking at the Graduation Lecture for Course 33 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, on Monday, Badaru said reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda are designed to strengthen accountability and professionalism across government institutions, including the defence sector.
“Strong nations are built on strong institutions, not strong individuals,” the Minister said. “Leadership is a trust. Your responsibility is to leave behind systems stronger than you found them.”
He urged the graduating officers to lead with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to institutional strengthening, describing them as critical drivers of sustainable development and national resilience.
The Minister also lauded the contributions of African governments, the African Union, and ECOWAS in promoting governance, peace, and development on the continent. He called for deeper cooperation to consolidate recent gains and ensure regional security.
Badaru commended President Tinubu for his unwavering support to the Armed Forces and the NDC, while also welcoming the insights of former Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, whose lecture, he noted, would inspire the next generation of African leaders.
The event marked the graduation of participants from Course 33 of the NDC, an elite programme designed to prepare senior officers and policymakers for higher responsibilities in defence and national security.
