The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Saturday, 26 September 2026, joined the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, ably represented by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, at the Combined Passing Out Parade, Pipping and Commissioning Ceremony for Cadets of the 73 Regular Course (RC), Short Service Course (SSC) 49, Army, Direct Short Service Course (DSSC) 34, Air Force and Branch Commission Course 3 (BC), Air Force at the RSM Oliver Nzalgana Parade Ground, Nigerian Defence Academy, Afaka, Kaduna.
A total of 966 cadets passed out at the ceremony, comprising 441 Regular Course cadets made up of 190 Army, 116 Air Force and 135 Navy cadets; 290 cadets of the 49 Short Service Course (Army); 148 cadets of the 34 Direct Short Service Course (Air Force); and 87 Air Force cadets of Branch Commission Course. The graduating cohort also included one allied cadet from the Republic of Congo, reflecting the Academy’s contribution to military cooperation and professional military education beyond Nigeria.
The ceremony marked the formal completion of rigorous military and academic training and the transition of the graduating cadets into commissioned officers entrusted with responsibilities in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Their commissioning further strengthens the professional manpower base of the Armed Forces and contributes to sustained efforts to enhance operational readiness, leadership capacity and the ability to effectively discharge constitutional responsibilities in defence of Nigeria.
