The recent visit of the Commandant of France’s prestigious École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM) to the Nigerian
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to closer collaboration with France’s École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM) in military education, leadership development, and language exchange.
The announcement came during a visit by the Commandant of ESM, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Charpy, to the NDA headquarters in Kaduna. The delegation included the French Defence Attaché and senior officers.
Speaking at the meeting, NDA Commandant Major General AK Ibrahim highlighted the importance of international cooperation, particularly with French-speaking neighbouring countries. He stressed that proficiency in French enhances operational readiness during joint missions. He also traced the Academy’s over six-decade history, noting that NDA has trained more than 20,000 officers, including 500 from allied countries across Africa and beyond.
Lieutenant General Charpy commended NDA’s robust training programmes, describing the visit as an opportunity to exchange expertise in cadet training, leadership, and language immersion.
The French delegation toured the NDA’s French Language Laboratory and Hall of Fame and observed cadet drills and obstacle training, demonstrating the Academy’s focus on discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness.
The visit concluded with a cultural gala featuring dance troupes and music, reflecting both countries’ shared commitment to mutual learning. Deputy Commandant Air Vice Marshal Abdulkadir thanked the visitors and praised the NDA staff for ensuring the success of the exchange.
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