Faculty of Art and Social Sciences

We are a leading Faculty in the Nigerian Defence Academy that has produce the best crops of personnel in the Nigerian Military. The Faculty also has a long-established reputation for carrying out cutting edge research and publications from a multidisciplinary perspective on topical issues that seek to change the character of human society in time and space.

The Faculty comprising six (6) Departments: Defence and Security Studies, Geography, History and War Studies, Languages, Political Science, and Psychology.

Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FASS) Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna. Established at the beginning of 1986/87 academic year, FASS has had a splendid history and has continued to provides a sound multidisciplinary space for the training of Cadets to become future military leaders. This is in lined with the Academy’s traditional of sustaining excellence in the training of the Nigerian Armed Forces for national service. Since the early days of Faculty, it has continued to serve as the administrative and academic hub for Departments to function effectively within the Faculty as a component of the Academic Branch towards achieving the Academy’s core mandate.

In the past 10 years, FASS has undergone huge structural changes including the curbing of the Faculty of Management Sciences out the Faculty, and the creation of new Depts such as PSY (from GNS), DSS (from defunct PSDS), Accounting, and later Management Sciences (out of defunct Economics and Management); the renaming and restructuring of HWS (formerly History and International Studies) and PS (formerly Political Science and Defence Studies). These changes have necessitated the need to rewrite the Faculty literature.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) is almost 36 years old. It was set up at the beginning of 1986/87 academic year. In 1985/86 session when the NDA degree programme took off, there were no Faculties. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences was subsequently created in September 1986. The Faculty celebrated its Silver Jubilee Anniversary in October 2011. There were only three Departments at the time the Faculty came into existence – Department of Economics, Department of Geography, and Department of History. There were only about 14 foundation academic staff. Only one of these staff are still in the service of the Academy. This is Professor OE Tangban, a former Head of the Department of History and International Studies, former Dean of the Post Graduate School and Dean of the Faculty.

Furthermore, in the past 10 years, FASS has undergone huge structural changes including the curbing of the Faculty of Management Sciences out the Faculty, and the creation of new Depts such as PSY (from GNS), DSS (from defunct PSDS), Accounting, and later Management Sciences (out of defunct Economics and Management); the renaming and restructuring of HWS (formerly History and International Studies) and PS (formerly Political Science and Defence Studies). The new Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) which was curved out of FASS, at the beginning of the 2019/2020, currently has four (4) Departments, namely: Department of Accounting, Department of Economics, Department of Management Studies, and Department of Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Over the years, FASS has expanded in terms of the number of Departments and staff. FASS currently has six departments – Defence and Security Studies; Geography; Languages; History and War Studies, Political Science; and Psychology. These Departments have the largest number of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes in the Academy. In addition, the Faculty accommodates a significant percentage of the civilian staff in NDA serving in Academic and non-Academic positions.

The Faculty has over the years been able to build a niche for itself through the contributions of its past Deans and Staff in the areas of research, teaching and community services. There is no doubt that past Deans has strived to continue with this enduring tradition of excellence in the social sciences and arts to pass the baton onto the next Dean. That is not to say that the Faculty is without challenges, as shortages of manpower, offices, infrastructure and research funding, amongst others, often constraint efforts at achieving excellence in academic excellence. However, the Faculty has been able to sustain its reputation for high intellectual work of the highest possible grade. FASS has therefore continued to set the pace in theory, practice and policy related matters, particularly in lined with the core mandate of NDA as a foremost military university in West Africa. Besides the volumes of publications by individual academic Staff, the Faculty established two highly-respected flagship journals: the Journal of Defence (JDS); and Arts and Social Science Research (ASSR) to serve as platforms for publications of cutting-edge research and publication of articles that seek to change the character of human society in time and space.

Several past Deans, who served at various times in the history of the Faculty, have made huge sacrifices and contributions to put FASS on a solid and sound foundation. They include: Asso Prof AE Ekoko (Oct 1986-Sep 1990); Prof AA Aderinto (Oct 1990-Sep 1994); Prof CN Ubah (Oct 1994-Sep 1996); Prof AA Aderinto (Oct 1996-Sep 1998); Prof AM Yakubu (Oct 1998-Sep 2000); Prof CN Ubah (Oct 2000-Sep 2002); Prof AM Yakubu (Oct 2002-Sep 2004); Prof CN Ubah (Oct 2004 -Sep 2006); Prof AA Lipede (Oct 2006 -Sep 2008); Prof DO Alabi (Oct 2008 – Sep 2010); Prof CN Ubah (Oct 2010-Sep 2013); Prof OE Tangban (Oct 2013-Nov 2017); Prof CI Egwaukhide (Nov 2017-Dec 2017); Prof DO Alabi (Jan 2018- Jan 2022).

Moving forward, and building on the foundations laid by his predecessors, the New Dean of FASS, Prof UA Tar has sought to reposition the Faculty for excellence by defining a vision “to achieve “an effective and efficient Faculty in the management of academic administrative, research and community service affairs consistent with NDA’s Mandate” and mission to ensure that FASS continues “to serve as administrative and academic hub for Departments within the faculty as a component of the Academic Branch in support of the Academy’s core mandate”. These are already taking shape in forms of broad based consultations and devolution of powers through reconstitution and expansion of Faculty working committees; renovation of Faculty headquarters; renovation and expansion of Faculty parking shed; and refurbishment of Faculty canteen. The Faculty has also focus greater attention on the Faculty two flagship journals: the Journal of Defence (JDS); and Arts and Social Science Research (ASSR). The two journals are undergoing total transformation in terms of editorial policy, contents design, editorial membership (to capture reputable scholars and practitioners across the world) and web contents accessibility and Visibility Consistent with emerging trends of open access and creative Common publishing. Two Committees established by the Dean are working to upgrade these Faculty Journals to achieve higher impact factor, visibility and patronage. The Faculty has also constituted Committees to organize a colloquium that will lead to the publication of a commemorative volume in honor of these fallen departed heroes (Late Profs Lipede, Tedheke, Osakwe and Enukora). Other areas being given priority include the organization of Faculty conferences, seminars and enhancement of visibility of Staff and the Academic as a whole through quality web content and online presence.

The Faculty is very confident that will continue to strive for excellence and take its rightful place as the prominent arts and social science Faculty in Nigeria. There is no doubt that Staff and students will have to continue to be the best that they should be. The Faculty remains committed to upgrading the teaching, learning, research and community service environment so that FASS will be next to none as centre of excellence. In this regard, the Faculty will continue to review and update its curriculum at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in lined with the NUC BMAS. It will also continue to reposition the Faculty for increase compliance in the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for academic and administrative purposes. These will go a long way in revolutionizing the history of FASS in teaching, learning and research.

The vision of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is to position itself to be a hub of influence for creating responsible and competent military leaders through excellence in service and holistic education. The Faculty also envisions to first to produce graduate officers with broad academic training in Arts and Social Science disciplines who can use their competencies as strong foundations for their careers as officers in the Nigerian Armed Forces. This is in the context of a globalized world within which officers of the Nigerian Military should be intellectually well equipped. Secondly, the Faculty seeks to train military and civilian graduates to acquire higher degrees which will equip them with special expertise relevant to military professionalism or enterprise in the public or private sector as the case may be.

The Faculty coordinates Departments to impart holistic military education par excellence that promotes the transformation of Cadets for faithful service to the nation. The Faculty is in the first place to produce high quality graduate officers for the Nigerian Armed Forces who can apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their various disciplines to meet the complex challenges of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the rapidly changing world of the profession of arms. Secondly, the Faculty seeks to provide specialized training in different academic disciplines for military and civilian graduate students for service in the public and private sectors. Thus, suitably equipped, the civilian higher degree holders can fill important positions in the universities, Government, Business, and Industry.

The philosophy of the Faculty is to strive to promote academic and research excellence in all Departments in the Faculty by extending knowledge and educational services through research, teaching and community service; to provide a sound Academic platform for the training of Cadets for future military service in the interest of the nation. To coordinate departments to serve as firm foundations for all-round knowledge of national and global structures and institutions; enhance understanding of social and political problems at various levels of society; stimulate the creative capacities for problem-solving and creative imagination; and offer a solid foundation for independent and critical thinking.

Since inception, the Faculty has had fifteen Deans. As shown in the table below; some Deans held the position more than once.

In the area of Research, it can be said with all modesty that considerable activities go on in FASS. Here, as in the universities around the world, lecturers must publish or perish. Through their hard work, nobody has perished. There have also been collaborative efforts at Faculty level which resulted in the following full- scale books:

1. Usman A. Tar, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba (Eds) (2021). Building a Professional Army for National Defence and Security: Perspectives on the Nigerian Army Strategy and Operations – Volume I. Kaduna: NDA.
2. Usman A. Tar, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba (Eds) (2021). Building a Professional Army for National Defence and Security: Perspectives on the Nigerian Army Strategy and Operations – Volume II. Kaduna: NDA.
3. Usman A. Tar, Sharkdam Wapmuk, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba (Eds) (2021). Perspectives on Nigeria’s Defence, Security and Development: National Strategies and the Way Forward – Volume I. Kaduna: NDA.
4. Usman A. Tar, Sharkdam Wapmuk, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba, (Eds) (2021). Perspectives on Nigeria’s Defence, Security and Development: National Strategies and the Way Forward – Volume II. Kaduna: NDA.
5. Usman A. Tar, Joseph A. Oluwadare, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba (Eds) (2021). Anchorage of National Defence and Security: Perspectives on the Nigerian Navy Strategy and operation – Volume I. Kaduna: NDA.
6. Usman A. Tar, Joseph A. Oluwadare, Bashir Bala and Samuel Baba Ayegba (Eds) (2021). Anchorage of National Defence and Security: Perspectives on the Nigerian Navy Strategy and operation – Volume II. Kaduna: NDA
7. Usman A. Tar, Samuel Baba Ayegba, Bashir Bala (Eds) (2021). Air Power, National Defence and Security: Perspectives on the Nigerian Air Force Strategy and Operations – Volume I. Kaduna: NDA.
8. Aderinto, AA and Ubah, CN Eds. (1998), Nigeria and the Contemporary World, Kaduna: Baraka Press and Publishers Ltd.
9. Sati, SA and sipede Eds. (2000), Transition and Development Process in Nigeria, Kaduna: Maharaim Publications.
10. AM Yakubu, RT Adegboye, CN Ubah, and B Dogo (eds.), Crisis and Conflict Management in Nigeria since 1980, Vols One and Two, Kaduna:  Baraka Press and Publishers Ltd, 2005.
11. Chinedu N Ubah, Bala Dogo, and DO Alabi (eds.), Studies on Kaduna State, Kaduna: Pyla-Mak Services Ltd, 2008.
12. OE Tangban and CC Osakwe (eds), Prospectives in African Historical Studies: Essays in Honour of Prof Chinedu Ubah, Kaduna: Plya-Mak Services Ltd, 2013.

Individual members of the Faculty have over the years published books and journal articles in their areas of specialization.

The staff in the Faculty are involved in a wide range of activities. Some examples will suffice:

1. Over the years, FASS has been an important recruiting ground by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and the Infantry Corps Centre  Jaji, for resource personnel.   It is well known that PSDS is running a MIADS programme at Jaji.  For this purpose, some staff of the Department travel to Jaji for lectures each working day of the week throughout the duration of each course in the Senior Division.
2. The National Universities Commission has used a good number of faculty staff for accreditation visits to other universities.
3. Prof CN Ubah of the Department of History and International Studies served as a member of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria in 1999.  He also served as a member of the Presidential Visitation Panel to Michael Okpara     University, Umudike, between February and March, 2011.
4. Gombe State Government appointed Prof RA Alkali of PSDS as State Commissioner.  Prof Alkali subsequently served the People’s Democratic Party as its National Publicity Secretary.
5. In 2002, Prof OE Tangban of the Department of History and International Studies served as a member of National Committee on ‘Calabar History’ tasked with the responsibility of sourcing historical evidence to validate Nigeria’s claim to the Bakassi Peninsular during the country’s dispute with Cameroun over the oil-rich territory.
6. Between 2004 and 2006 Prof AO Ahmed of the Department of History and International Studies served as a member of Presidential Research Committee,            and in 2009 he was appointed member of the Presidential Police Reform Committee.
7. Between 2007 and 2012 Prof AM Yakubu, also of Department of History and International Studies was appointed Executive Secretary, TETFUND.
8. In 2011, the Hon Minister of Environment appointed       Dr Al-Amin of Geography Department as his Special Adviser.  He returned to the Department at the end of the year, 2012 only to be appointed two years later as the Chairman, Federal Housing Authority Board.
9. Three Faculty staff (names withheld) have at several times been involved at the National Defence College as External Assessors for the students’ projects.
10. Associate Prof S Ochoche served as the Chief of Political Affairs, United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) in 2013.
11. Prof AM Yakubu, of the Department of History and International Studies is currently serving as Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
12. Prof OE Tangban, also of the Department of History and International Studies was appointed Member, Governing Council of Federal University Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State in March 2016.
13. Prof UA Tar of the Department of Defence and Security Studies serves as Member, Federal Government Ad Hoc Committee on Defence and Security – a high-powered Think-Tank commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Defence to continuously analyse the causes of Threats to National Security (9 October 2018 to Present)
14. Prof UA Tar of the Department of Defence and Security Studies, also served as Member, Presidential Committee to Review the National Defence Policy (NNDP), November 2014 to May 2015. The National Defence Policy 2015 has been gazetted.
15. Dr Caroline Obiageli Ogbonna of the Department of Languages was selected and participated as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar (Program and Curriculum Development in Critical Thinking) to Kent State University, Ohio USA, 2021 – 2022.

Since the late 1980s, seminars, colloquium and conferences have been crucial platforms for engaging Staff of the Faculty in intellectual discourse and exchange. The seminars and conferences give Faculty members the opportunity to make presentations in their areas of interests. It also allows other members of the Faculty to discuss, learn and to broaden their understanding. In addition, Departments within the Faculty also organize In-House Seminars, which are not restricted to only members of the Departments. In fact, participants from outside the Academy do attend and participate actively in Departmental Seminars. Faculty and Departmental Seminars are announced from time to time and widely disseminated within the Academy and beyond.

1.  National Conference on Crisis and Conflict Management in Nigeria Since 1980, held at NDA Kaduna from 15-17 June, 2005. The Conference brought together executive/policy makers, security agencies, scholars, community leaders, civil society etc. to examine the roots of ethno-religious conflicts, communal and political conflicts in Nigeria since 1980.
2. International Conference on Defence, Security, Economy and Development, held at NDA Kaduna, from February 27 to March 1^st, 2017. History Department of NDA hosted the Historical Society of Nigeria.

• FASS Methodology Workshop for Young Scholars. Theme: “Topic Selection and Problem Formulation”, held on Friday 3 June 2022.
• Faculty Multi-Disciplinary Colloquium- Theme: Emerging Issues in Arts and Social Science Research, held on 10 JUNE 2022
• Free French Language Proficiency Programme for NDA Staff.

International Conference on Defence, Security and Sustainable Development in Africa: Emerging Challenges and Responses – 27th to 28th July, 2022.

This conference seeks to critically examine the link between defence, security and development in complex world, and to examine the dynamics of emerging security challenges in Africa as well as responses by stakeholders. The conference seeks to provide a platform for charting possible alternative futures for the defence and security architecture of African states. The conference will invite participants from various African countries. This can be mustered through the diplomatic missions of African countries in Abuja.