GRADUATION CEREMONY OF NAVAL WARFARE COURSE 9 OF NAVAL WAR COLLEGE NIGERIA

On Friday, 12 September 2025, the Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN) graduated 30 participants of Naval Warfare Course 9. The beautiful graduation ceremony took place at the Central Lecture Hall of the NWCN and the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla was the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH). Also present was the Deputy Governor of Cross Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Peter Agbey Odey who represented the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu. Other dignitaries included the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Kennedy Chukwuemeka Ezete, the Director Navy Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr Joel Adeoye Christopher, Principal Staff Officers from Naval Headquarters, members of the diplomatic corps, senior military and paramilitary officials, members of Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) and families of the graduating participants. The Commandant of the College, Rear Admiral Akinola Olodude who oversaw the entire graduation ceremony also conferred the award of "Fellow Naval War College" on the successful participants comprising 21 Commanders of the Nigerian Navy, 2 Lieutenant Colonels of the Nigerian Army, 2 Wing Commanders of the Nigerian Airforce. The course also had international participants with 2 officers from the Cameroon Navy, and one each from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana Navies, exemplifying the College's international outlook. Significantly, NWCN graduated its first female participant on this course, Miss Judithmary Iloh, a civilian staff of the National Defence College Abuja. During the graduation ceremony, awards were presented in recognition of excellence. The award winners were: Best Sister Service Participant - Wing Commander Mohammed Babatunde Bolaji. Best Foreign Participant- Commander Stephen Manu from the Ghana Navy who also emerged Third position in order of merit. The award for second position in order of merit went to Commander Owonam Una Equere while the First position in order of merit was Commander Adebayo Yusuf Adesokan, who also received the award for the Best Research Paper showcasing his exceptional analytical and academic skills. In his remarks the CNS noted that NWCN had come of age and was fulfilling the role for which it was established. Notably, the CNS reminded all that the Nigerian Navy’s Operation DELTA SANITY which was launched in January 2024 and relaunched in December 2024 to combat crude oil theft and associated crimes in Nigeria's maritime domain had significantly contributed to the steady increase in Nigeria’s Crude Oil output which is now about 1.8mbd according to industry sources. Hence he charged the graduands to put in their best efforts in furtherance of NN mission objectives once they resume in their new units. Immediately after the graduation ceremony, 2 NN Commanders who had earlier been promoted on the course were decorated with their new ranks of Captain by the CNS. The newly promoted officers were Captain Musa Buba Alhassan and Captain Oluwaseun Adebayo Jinadu. The graduation of Naval Warfare Course 9 marks another milestone in the development of operational level leaders poised to contribute to the security and defence of Nigeria and their respective nations. #NigerianNavy #OnwardTogether