The quiet town of Jaji in Kaduna State is once again at the centre of a defining moment for the Nigerian Army, as 260 middle cadre officers file into the imposing Ihejirika Auditorium for what could be a turning point in their military careers.
It is the 2025 Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination — an annual rite of passage that separates those ready to move into the army’s leadership ranks from those who must try again. Organised by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the week-long test is designed to probe not just knowledge, but determination, technical skill, and professional judgement.
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At the opening ceremony on Sunday, Maj.-Gen. Kelvin Aligbe, President of the Examination Board, addressed the candidates with the tone of a seasoned commander who knows the weight of the moment. “This examination will shape the leadership pipeline of the Nigerian Army,” he declared.
Eight subjects lie ahead for the officers, from tactics and low-intensity conflict to geopolitics and military law. But Maj.-Gen. Aligbe made it clear that success here will not be measured by brilliance alone; integrity will be just as important.
“This is an examination you can pass without resorting to any illegal or fraudulent means,” he told them, promising a process that would be fair, transparent, and grounded in merit. “If you have prepared, you will pass. There is no excuse for failure.”
To make the stakes even clearer, he reminded them of the rules: a minimum of 50 per cent in every subject to qualify for the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and no more than three attempts allowed in a career.
While many of the candidates are sitting for the exam for the first time, a few are returning for a second chance. For all of them, the outcome will decide whether they take the next step towards senior command or return to the field to try again next year.
By the end of this process, Maj.-Gen. Aligbe believes the Nigerian Army will have identified “the next generation of leaders” ready to take on the challenges of a modern and complex security environment.
