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Dr Mpango urges defence college to address security challenges
Vice President Philip Mpango takes a salute from National Dfefence College Major General Ibrahim Mhona as he arrives to preside over the valediction ceremony for the 11th course of the 2020/23 graduates in Dar es Salaam on July 29, 2023. PHOTO | VICE PRESIDENT OFFICE
What you need to know:
- Dr Mpango emphasised the importance of maintaining high educational standards to produce graduates equipped with the necessary skills to meet regional and international demands.
Dar es Salaam. Vice President Dr Philip Mpango has called on the National Defence College (NDC) to prioritise finding solutions to pressing security challenges, including global terrorism threats, illicit financial flows, and cybercrime concerns.
He made this plea during the valediction ceremony for the 11th course of the 2020/23 graduates, an event over which he presided.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mpango commended the college for its exceptional work in producing skilled security experts in strategic studies.
He praised the 347 senior officers who had participated in various security and strategic studies courses, acknowledging their newfound knowledge and skills to tackle security challenges such as illicit financial flows, terrorism, cybercrime, and more.
“I commend the graduates for this lifetime achievement and express my appreciation to the NDC for fostering bilateral, regional and international cooperation,” said Dr Mpango.
He further highlighted NDC’s role in facilitating stronger regional and international ties by welcoming students from East African Countries (EAC), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries, as well as India, Egypt, China, and Bangladesh.
Dr Mpango emphasised the importance of maintaining high educational standards to produce graduates equipped with the necessary skills to meet regional and international demands.
He urged the college to monitor the progress of its graduates and assess the practical output of the knowledge they acquired during their time at NDC.
In addition, the Vice President encouraged the college to develop a strategy to attract more students, both locally and internationally, to enrol in their training programmes. He believed that such efforts would not only strengthen relationships but also elevate NDC to become an education hub in the region.
He also stressed the importance of increasing female representation among the college’s students. Noting that only two out of 47 graduates were women, he called on the NDC to make concerted efforts to attract more women to their studies.
The NDC Commandant, Major General Ibrahim Mhona, shared the college’s ambition to achieve prestigious status while maintaining academic excellence. The recent valediction marked the 11th edition since the college’s inception.
Since its establishment, NDC has seen 347 students graduate, with 240 Tanzanians and 107 foreigners among them. Notably, 47 graduates hail from different countries, including Kenya, Burundi, Botswana, China, Nigeria, Uganda, Namibia, India, and others.
Of these, 33 held master’s degrees in security and strategic studies, seven were diploma holders, and seven received prestigious symbols of distinction.
The event was also graced by Foreign Affairs Minister Stergomena Tax, who represented Defence Minister Innocent Bashungwa.
As the nation faces an ever-changing security landscape, the government’s call for the NDC to focus on finding solutions to security challenges is vital.
With a commitment to producing skilled experts and fostering international cooperation, NDC plays a crucial role in bolstering Tanzania’s security endeavours both regionally and globally. The graduation marks a significant milestone in the college’s pursuit of excellence and its dedication to addressing security challenges head-on.
