General Lagbaja Highlights leadership, interllect, morale, courage Amongst Factors That Determine Outcome of Warfare

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has stated that the outcome of warfare is determined by intangible factors such as leadership, interllect, morale, and courage emphasized through a study of history.  

General Lagbaja wrho was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans Army, Major General Abdulsalam Ibrahim stated this in Abuja, Nigeria at the Fifth edition of the Nigerian Civil War (NCW) Symposium with focused on Military History as part of the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) curriculum. 

Addressing participants at the Symposium with the theme "The Dynamics of Leadership and Decision Making During the Nigerian Civil War: Lessons for Operational Level Commanders, the Army Chief said it is imperative for operational level leaders to be experts in operational art. 

General Lagbaja stressed that Leadership is of a critical importance hence it is the first pillar of his command philosophy, "to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibility within a joint environment".

"The theme of this Symposium is in consonant with and in furtherance of the realisation of my command philosophy and I believe the outcome of the Symposium will contribute emensly to developing leadership qualities of the participants which will translate to contributing to the successes being recorded by the gallant troops in all theatres of Operations"

The COAS said the Army must be deliberate in the study of military history to bring out and apply value lessons to the contemporary security challenges. 

Guess Speaker, at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Professor Shedrack Gaiya while presenting a leacture titled 'The Dynamics of Leadership And Decision Making In The Nigerian Civil War, Lessons For Operational Level Commanders' pointed out that eadership makes all the difference in war. 

Explaining Further he said the quality of leadership during war can determine the outcome of a war because leadership is solving problems as much as it influence. 

The Commandant Army War College Nigeria, Major General Ishaya Maina in his address said the civil war was a gloomy moment in the anals of Nigeria’s history therefore the Nigerian civil war Symposium is included in the military history module to help participants learn from the past. 

"The Symposium provides an avenue to academically dissect the strategic operational amd tactical activities of the Nigerian Civil War for better comprehension of battle field events outcome inorder to bring out useful lessons that could assist in addressing the contemporary security threats facing the nation today "

The symposium which had the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as its Special Guest of Honour is an important part of Module 6 Military History of AWCN curriculum.