The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has modified its curriculum for regular cadet training to address the security challenges currently facing the country.

Brigadier-General Emmanuel Emekah, the director of military training of the academy, said this Saturday in Jos at the ongoing “Exercise Camp Highland’’ being conducted at the 69th Regular Cadets Course.

He said the modification had brought about a paradigm shift focusing on asymmetric warfare as opposed to conventional warfare.

“Contemporary security challenges has necessitated that the curriculum for the cadet training be modified,’’ he said.

Emekah explained that cadets of Course 69 were the first to benefit from the modification of the curriculum, adding that the academy was using them to test-run the new development.

“What they are doing now are things some of us did as commissioned officers, but these cadets have the opportunity to do it now,’’ he said.

He also said the ongoing Exercise Camp Highland was aimed at preparing the cadets for the task ahead of them by the time they become commissioned officers.

The director explained that the exercise was divided into four phases, adding that the first one – river crossing operation – was held in Makurdi.

“We are in Jos for the second phase, which is the adventure and leadership training, and we will be moving to Bauchi from here for the third phase, the mechanised operation.

“From Bauchi, we will move to Kachia in Kaduna State for the final phase. The essence of all these is because they will soon be commissioned as officers and leaders to lead their various platoons in battles.

“They should have the knowledge to be able to lead their troops wherever they find themselves,’’ Emekah said.