Participants of Naval Warfare Course (NWC) 10 of the Naval War College Nigeria (NWCN) successfully conducted an International Study Tour (IST) to Türkiye and India from 29 May to 7 June 2026. The IST was designed to expose participants to global best practices in indigenous shipbuilding and fleet sustainment. In line with the theme, ‘Fostering Indigenous Shipbuilding for Optimum Fleet Availability,’ the study tour examined the shipbuilding ecosystems, maintenance structures, and policy frameworks that enabled Türkiye and India to achieve enhanced fleet availability and operational readiness.
The participants were divided into two teams, with Team 1 visiting Türkiye and Team 2 visiting India. During the IST, the participants visited several military, government, and maritime industry establishments, including the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Sedef Shipyard, Turkish Northern Sea Area Command, Naval Dockyard Mumbai, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, and the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Other institutions visited included the Turkish National Defence University, Fleet Maintenance Unit Mumbai, and the Indian Register of Shipping, among others.
At each location, participants received detailed presentations and comprehensive briefings on the development and sustainment of indigenous shipbuilding capabilities in both countries. The engagements highlighted the strategic policies, industrial ecosystems, technological competencies, and sustainment mechanisms that enable the design, construction, maintenance, and modernization of naval platforms. These insights underscored the critical role of indigenous shipbuilding in achieving optimum fleet availability, enhancing operational readiness, and strengthening national maritime capabilities.
The Commandant NWCN, Rear Admiral Mohammed Adamu Muye expressed his appreciation for the hospitality and cooperation extended to the IST teams by the various military, government, and maritime industry stakeholders. He lauded the commitment of the host institutions to advancing indigenous shipbuilding through robust policy frameworks, technological innovation, and industrial capacity development. The Commandant also urged the course participants to critically evaluate the lessons learned and leverage the insights gained to support ongoing efforts towards strengthening Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding capability, improving fleet availability, and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy.
The successful conduct of the IST underscores NWCN’s commitment to developing senior naval officers and their counterparts from other Services for operational-level command and leadership responsibilities. The knowledge and experiences gained from the visits to Türkiye and India are expected to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts to develop indigenous shipbuilding capacity and enhance fleet availability in support of the Nigerian Navy’s strategic objectives.
