Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd), CFR, delivered a thought-provoking lecture to participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 9/2025. The lecture, titled “Civil-Military Relations and Military Effectiveness,” was held at the College Lecture Hall in Asokoro, Abuja. General Agwai emphasized that strong civil-military relations are crucial to military professionalism, ethical governance, and operational success.

He highlighted that a professional military must not only be combat-ready but also function within the framework of democratic oversight, public trust, and national development. The lecture covered key areas, including the relationship between the military and the state, military professionalism in civil relations, and the impact of civil-military relations on military effectiveness.

General Agwai noted that military effectiveness is not solely determined by firepower or tactics but also by the level of trust and cooperation between the armed forces, government institutions, and the civilian population. According to him, “A military force that enjoys public confidence and aligns its operations with national interests will always outperform one that operates in isolation.”

The lecture also examined historical and contemporary examples of civil-military relations from around the world, drawing lessons for Nigeria’s security framework. General Agwai stressed the need for continuous engagement between the armed forces and civil society to strengthen national security, peacebuilding, and crisis management.

The Commandant AWCN, Major General Umar Muhammed Alkali, commended General Agwai for his insightful presentation, describing it as a valuable contribution to the intellectual and strategic development of the course participants. The event concluded with an interactive session where participants engaged the guest lecturer on various aspects of civil-military relations and its application to Nigeria’s security challenges.