The Defence Intelligence College (DIC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to offer specialised postgraduate programmes aimed at enhancing the expertise of Nigerian military, security, and intelligence personnel.
This collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) headquarters in Abuja. The UNN delegation, led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Igwe, included Registrar Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Nebedum, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Ike Onyishi, and Coordinator of the UNN-DIC Collaboration Prof. Freedom Onuoha.
Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, endorsed the partnership, emphasizing compliance with Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and Defence Headquarters (DHQ) standards. He highlighted the need for professional course development and robust grading schemes.
Commandant of DIC, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu, underscored the college’s role in training personnel from various national security and intelligence agencies. He noted that the collaboration with UNN aims to enhance the competence and capacity of these agencies’ staff. Nwagu emphasized the importance of sustainability and integration with existing DIC programs, praising UNN’s high standards and expressing aspirations for joint Research and Development (R&D) initiatives.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Charles Igwe highlighted UNN’s legacy as Nigeria’s first indigenous university and its pioneering role in academic programs. He affirmed the university’s commitment to addressing national challenges through this collaboration and announced plans to establish a Department of Nuclear Sciences and Nuclear Engineering.
Prof. Ike Onyishi, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at UNN, detailed the planned postgraduate programmes, including Cartography, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, International Relations, Conflict and Peace Studies, Human Security, Counter-Terrorism, and Criminology, among others. These programmes are set to commence shortly, with new courses being developed to meet contemporary intelligence needs.
Coordinator Prof. Freedom Onuoha emphasized that the collaboration aims to produce highly skilled personnel capable of addressing national security and defence challenges. A committee has been established to develop these postgraduate programmes for approval by the University Senate.
Senior DIC and DIA officials, including Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence Air Vice Marshal Sunday Chinda, attended the MoU signing ceremony, marking a significant step towards enhancing Nigeria’s security capabilities through advanced education and training.
