How to get into the Nigeria Defence Academy: Passing an Interview
How to get into the Nigeria Defence Academy: Passing an Interview
Do you want to become a military officer? Do you want to be an Air Force pilot, an Army Officer or a Naval Officer? This blog post is for those who may have always dreamed of the Nigerian Defence Academy and all it has to offer. To join Nigeria's Armed Forces as a commissioned officer, one must first clear the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and pass the interview at Nigeria Defence Academy. The NYSC is compulsory for Nigerians between 18 – 25 years old. Those that successfully complete their stint can then apply for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy as well as other schools in Nigeria such as University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University etc.
Section 1: National Youth Service Corps
NYSC is mandatory for Nigerians that are between the ages of 18 – 25 years. Prospective Corps members must apply at their local commission office for a general form at N200. All those who passed NYSC are eligible for a commission. There is a waiting list before you can register for a particular organisation, but no application will be considered if it has been reserved for a particular applicant. The list of successful candidates is usually posted on the website of the selected organisations.
Section 2: List of Selected Organisations
I. Nigerian Defence Academy
II. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
III. University of Nigeria (UNN)
IV. University of Ibadan
V. University of Lagos
VI. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
VII. Nigerian Defence College
VIII. Nigerian Navy (NAVON)
X.
Passing an interview
With this blog post, I will detail the recruitment procedure of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NYSC), basic requirements for admission into the Academy and the interview. For those who are yet to apply, you can read the NA website here.
How to apply
To apply to the Nigeria Defence Academy, you must be a graduate of at least a Nigerian tertiary institution and within the age limit. You can also apply if you were born in a Nigerian state. All you need to do is create an online account at the Nigerian Defence Academy website by clicking here. The username and password you will use when you create your account are your e-mail address. Remember to make sure that you use your e-mail address correctly. If you can't find it in your e-mail, you might have already been canned by your batch.
Nigeria Defence Academy
Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) was established in 1982 to prepare young Nigerians for military careers by instilling the necessary qualities such as military education and discipline, and active participation in community service. Only five graduates from the NDA are commissioned as second lieutenants into the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force. The current Commandant of the NDA is Brigadier General Ambiga Dabi, a Batch B (1986) graduate of the NDA. _______________ _______________
How to prepare for the NDA: Passing an Interview
To begin, prospective applicants must have applied for admission to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and meet certain requirements.
Requirements for admission
The admission into the Nigeria Defence Academy is based on Group C – Lower requirements and Group D – Upper requirements. You must meet the following criteria in order to join the Nigerian Defence Academy:
Group C – Lower requirements:
Go to university
Note:
Go to university to study an engineering programme.
Let's break it down in simple terms.
If you have finished high school and are already 18 years old, you are a Group C student.
If you are between 18 and 20 years old and are still in school, then you are in the Group D.
Group D – Upper requirements:
Receive the age waiver through the Nigerian Army's flag presentation ceremony.
You must graduate high school with a minimum of 50% overall CGPA or equivalent.
How to prepare for the interview
The Nigeria Defence Academy has set up a dedicated portal for intending applicants. Prospective applicants can go to https://njaad.ng to check the general information of the Defence Academy. It will include your CV, application information, and in-depth information about the service. This portal will also have a link to the Interview Course, which students are required to take. While you're on this website, you'll also find links to additional information that's necessary for you to prepare for the application process. You'll find information on entrance requirements, testing of physical and psychological requirements, the public interview course, and information about admission processes. All the information is available for free on the Nigeria Defence Academy's website.
What are the advantages of joining the Nigerian Defence Academy?
First and foremost, an admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy comes with lots of advantages. First off, it is one of the best, if not the best, military institution in the country. The security of the nation depends on the loyalty and dedication of its officers. In light of this, it makes sense that there are few exceptional graduates that have joined the Nigeria Defence Academy from all over the world to serve their country and to be acknowledged as the best in their discipline. Those that have joined the Nigeria Defence Academy are identified by the Special Invite Officer as those that would pass the NYSC and be able to attend the interview. It is a privilege for those who have been selected and deemed "ready for the special interview" to be allowed to be admitted into the academy.
Conclusion
My name is Obasa Ogundana. I am a Nigerian born in January 1984. I have a Bachelors in International Business from the University of Benin and I am currently in my final year at University of Lagos. I am currently a workshare intern at Ghana NYSC CSC. I am currently working in Ghana till February 3rd 2017. In January this year, I spent a week working for the Ghana NYSC. My experience was enlightening. It changed my entire perception about the NDA and the Nigerian military in general. I hope this blog post is helpful to those who wish to pass the NDA interview.
