Army Africa Chief Visits Nigeria, Addresses Inaugural War College Class

By Army Capt. James Sheehan U.S. Army Africa

VICENZA, Italy, Dec. 8, 2017 — U.S. Army Africa’s acting commanding general visited Nigeria to engage with senior land force’s chiefs and share his academic insights with war college students in Abuja, Nov. 30.

Army Brig. Gen. Eugene J. LeBoeuf met with U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria W. Stuart Symington and Nigeria’s chief of army staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to discuss counterterrorism operations and the upcoming African Land Forces Summit.

"ALFS further confirms that the U.S. has all the confidence in the Nigerian army. It is a very important summit for us, and we will do everything to make it successful," Buratai said.

African Land Forces Summit

The African Land Forces Summit is an annual, four-day conference scheduled to take place in Abuja in spring 2018. The summit will host African land forces chiefs from across the continent to discuss and develop solutions for regional threats, challenges, and drivers of instability, including violent extremist organizations.

LeBoeuf’s visit also included a meeting with Nigeria Army War College commandant Maj. Gen. Alani Okunlola. The NAWC was inaugurated in June, and the first class will graduate in December. LeBoeuf spoke to the class about challenges and opportunities in Africa and Nigeria, USARAF’s role, and how the U.S. Army War College has trained strategic leaders for more than 110 years.

“Our Army War College evolved to educate and develop accomplished officers and civilians for service at the strategic level to produce skilled critical thinkers and complex problem solvers in the global application of land power,” LeBoeuf said.

Nov. 29, 2017. LeBoeuf’s engagement in Nigeria also included a senior leader visit with the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria’s chief of army staff and a speech to students at the Nigeria Army War College. Courtesy photo from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria

Okunlola recently visited the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The NAWC cadre has traveled to the U.S., Bangladesh and the United Kingdom to fuse and adapt the best curriculum. In September, staff from the U.S. Army War College visited NAWC to give council on parts of the curriculum, including operational design and theater-level campaign planning.

Nigerian Army War College’s Vision

The NAWC’s vision is to bridge the gap between operational and strategic level commanders. The college will train senior officers how to think and lead armies from on-the-ground tactics to global, big picture efforts.

“This will become the institution from which your army evaluates the complex challenges facing your nation, strives to understand the external and internal forces perpetuating those challenges, and crafts possible solutions for meeting those challenges,” LeBoeuf said. “It should also provide an opportunity to learn about other government institutions and how to work together effectively.”

USARAF’s objective to support Nigeria’s peacekeeping operation’s mission and help bring peace and prosperity to the continent is a long-term effort. LeBoeuf told the NAWC class that USARAF is ready to provide support to the world’s seventh most populated country and Africa’s largest economy.

“USARAF remains available and willing to support emerging requests from the Nigerian army and college leadership,” he said. “We are proud to be your partner, and we look forward to continuing to support the Nigerian army in this endeavor.”