DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has highlighted the critical need for cooperation and joint responses to address a set of interconnected global problems.
Speaking at the Twelfth Valedictory Function of the National Defence College (NDC) Tanzania for the 2023/2024 cohort in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, President Samia underscored the enduring significance of South-South Cooperation.
“In today’s world, the spirit of South-South Cooperation remains as vital as it was during the 1960s, when it played a crucial role in debates on independence and in the subsequent decades of discussions about the world economic order and the development aspirations of the global south,” President Samia said.
She further said that the current global challenges necessitate a reaffirmed commitment to South-South cooperation and a robust support for multilateralism.
“We must continue to underscore the need for South-South cooperation, and emphasise our support for multilateralism, which offers us the best chance to ensure a just, practical and effective collective response to our needs,” she added.
The President’s remarks come at a time when countries worldwide are grappling with complex issues that range from economic instability to climate change and from health crises to security threats. Her call for unified efforts and collective action resonates with the long-standing principles of mutual support and collaboration among developing nations
President Samia also noted the importance of hosting international course members at the NDC.
“Hosting 22 course members from 15 friendly nations is testament to belief that bringing together the highest level and most outstanding professionals will contribute to finding collective solutions to shared global challenges,” she said.
She extended her gratitude to Tanzania’s international partners.
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“To Tanzania’s friends who continue to entrust us with your distinguished senior officers by bringing them to participate as course members at NDC, we thank you for your continued confidence in our college and for your partnership. The government of Tanzania will continue to support NDC to ensure that the college effectively and efficiently continues to play an ever-impactful role in its contributions to domestic, regional and global security.” President Samia said.
The NDC’s valedictory function celebrated the accomplishments of the 2023/2024 graduates and reinforced the importance of strategic alliances in addressing both national and global challenges.
The culmination of Course 12 of 2023/2024 simultaneously marks 12 years since the establishment of NDC.
President Samia reflected on the institution’s growth saying it is notable that, for the past twelve years, NDC has continued to grow from strength to strength. It has registered tremendous achievements both in terms of the quantity and quality of its graduands in the pursuit of the College’s mandate.
Since its inception in 2012, the NDC has expanded its course members from an all-Tanzanian 20 members in its first intake to a multinational cohort of 53 members from 16 countries.
President Samia commended the commandant and faculty for their dedication and hard work and also highlighted the progress in gender inclusion within the NDC.
“Whereas the first course was all male, we have seen an increase of female course members. While I am aware of the disproportionate number of female officers in our military, the same cannot be said of the other security organs and government institutions represented on the long course. My challenge to you is to ensure that among the suitable candidates earmarked to attend courses at NDC due consideration should be made to gender parity as well,” she said.
Ten years after its establishment, NDC was officially designated as a “National Research Centre of Excellence on Security and Strategy for Policy and Innovation in Tanzania,” by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).
Dr Samia said the college is undertaking important research projects ranging from defence industrial capacities to sustainable enhancement of transportation corridors.
“As the Head of State and Commander in Chief, I am proud of the NDC for its progress, and its positioning as our think tank of first resort for advice on strategic, defence and security matters,” President Samia said.
During the event, 53 officers graduated, with 47 of them conferred with the prestigious symbol ‘ndc’. Later on, all graduates donned graduation robes for the conferment of academic awards.
Major General Wilbert Ibuge, Commandant of NDC-TZ, announced that the 47-week long course included senior military, security, and civilian officials from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), security organs, ministries, departments and agencies from Tanzania, as well as from Tanzania’s allied and strategic friendly countries.
Maj Gen Ibuge noted that 10 officers were awarded a Diploma in Security and Strategic Studies, 37 were awarded a Master’s Degree in Security and Strategic Studies and six received a certificate of attendance.
Other graduates were from Botswana, Ethiopia, India, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda.
He said that national security should not be treated as the exclusive domain of security organs, stating, “Matters of national security should not be treated as exclusively for security organs as each person has a critical role to play. Nations should also continue to work collectively in addressing security threats.”
Looking to the future, President Samia expressed optimism about the impending completion of modern accommodation facilities, which will improve the learning environment for course members.
She further said the importance of evidence-based solutions and urged continued investment in reliable research and fostering collaborations with partners and institutions.
The President also highlighted the need for NDC to guide research into ensuring human security and addressing threats such as hunger, epidemics, war, terrorism and natural disasters.
She commended NDC’s plans to commence the construction of a state-of-the-art Research, Learning and Innovation Resource Centre (RELIREC), expressing her support and anticipation for the project’s completion.
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