Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has issued a clarion call for deeper collaboration among the country’s top policy minds and security experts to accelerate national transformation and secure lasting peace.
Chairing the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI) on Saturday at the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Badaru urged members to leverage their expertise and influence to champion bold reforms in security and governance.
Held under the theme “Towards a New Nigeria,” the event brought together Nigeria’s foremost thinkers, including His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto; AANI President, Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni; and dignitaries from across the country.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, hosted the gathering.
In a stirring address, the Minister declared:
“We have made meaningful progress in dismantling terrorist and bandit cells, neutralizing hundreds of insurgents and their notable leaders. But the task ahead requires more than bullets—it requires brains, unity, and policy clarity.”
As a proud alumnus of SEC 28/2006, Badaru reminded the AANI community that they are not mere observers, but critical actors in Nigeria’s quest for peace, equity, and economic revival.
“Your collective insight, experience, and networks must not remain on paper. It’s time for AANI to lead strategic conversations, shape reforms, and ensure the vision of a New Nigeria is not lost to bureaucracy or politics,” he said.
The Defence Minister’s remarks came at a time when Nigeria is recalibrating its security architecture, economic recovery agenda, and governance systems. His appeal to the elite alumni body struck a chord, reinforcing AANI’s role as an incubator of ideas and a driver of national policy direction.
He commended the AANI Executive Council for its unwavering commitment to national development and declared the 45th AGM officially open.