By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna, has announced the commencement of Exercise HASKE BIYU 2025, a national problem-solving initiative designed to address pressing security challenges through a whole-of-society approach.
With the theme “Family and National Security,” this year’s edition emphasizes the pivotal role of family units in sustaining national stability and resilience.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Olumide Victor Olukoya, Public Relations Officer of the College, the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will grace the opening ceremony as Special Guest of Honour, underscoring the importance of family in strengthening national security.
The three-week exercise, scheduled for 15 September to 3 October 2025 at the Jaji Military Cantonment, will involve student officers of Senior Course 47, drawn from the Services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the media, non-governmental organizations, and other strategic partners.
The statement explained that HASKE BIYU 2025 provides a platform for research, brainstorming, and practical exercises aimed at generating actionable solutions to Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges, particularly in internal security and counter-insurgency operations.
Participants will deliberate on conflict resolution and management strategies, with a strong focus on the use of soft power as a tool for peacebuilding and conflict termination.
A major highlight of this year’s programme is the innovative event tagged “A Day in the Life of a Soldier,” which will allow members of the media and selected non-military participants to gain first-hand experience of military life.
This initiative, according to the College, is designed to strengthen civil-military relations and promote inter-agency collaboration in addressing national security challenges.
The exercise also serves as a forum for knowledge-sharing, partnership-building, and the development of strategic frameworks to enhance Nigeria’s capacity for peace and stability.
“Through HASKE BIYU 2025, we seek to expand understanding of military operations other than war, while building the collective capacity of security actors and society at large to confront emerging threats,” the statement added.
