How to Join Nigerian Defence Academy & Requirements (2023)

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) located in Kaduna state is the first and the most popular military university in Nigeria. It trains the officer corps of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Unlike other conventional universities, the Nigerian Defence Academy also incorporates military training aside the academic training. This is to ensure their graduates are not only academically sound but also equipped with the required skills, military training and mindset to help in the smooth running of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The NDA was established in March 1964 as a reformation of the British run Royal Military Forces Training College (RMFTC), which had been renamed the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) on independence. The initial class was only 62 cadets, and trainers were mostly officers in the Indian Army. The NDA grew to an all Nigerian training staff only in 1978.

The school never took off as a university until in 1985 when it started offering undergraduate programs to military officers in training. Currently, it now has both MSc and PhD programs.

Duration of training at the Nigerian Defence Academy is 5 years, which include 4 years of academic studies and 1 year of military training. Some of the notable Alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy among others includes:

• Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, former Chief of Army Staff
• Alexander Ogomudia, former Chief of Defence Staff & Chief of Army Staff
• Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria and former Military Head of State
• Azubuike Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff
• Gideon Orkar, March 1990 coup leader
• Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army
• Maxwell Khobe, former ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force Commander and Chief of Defence Staff, Sierra Leone
• Sultan Sa’adu Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto
• Sambo Dasuki, National Security Adviser
• Owoye Andrew Azazi, former Chief of Defence Staff & Chief of Army Staff
• Victor Malu, former Chief of Army Staff
• Oladipo Diya, former Chief of Defence Staff
• Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy

How To Join The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)

Just like any other school, the Nigerian Defence Academy have it own application methodology and requirements. Fall short of expectations and weed yourself out automatically. Before discussing the steps to join the Nigerian Defence Academy, let take a look at the requirements.

Requirements For Joining NDA

It is important to note that the Nigerian Army accepts only male officer cadets. So females are only restricted to the Air Force and Navy. The NDA also does not accept awaiting results neither does it accept SSCE aged more than 5 years. Some of it requirements include:

• Minimum of 5 credit passes at SSCE including mathematics and English language in not more than two sitting.
• JAMB with a minimum of 180 and required subjects
• Applicants must be between the age of 17 to 21.
• Must not be less than 1.68 metres in height for male and 1.58 metres height for female.
• Applicants must be physically and mentally fit
• Applicants must have a good moral behavior
• Must be single male or female without legal obligation to support any child or other individuals.

Application procedures

Application is done online and cost N3,500. To apply, visit https://rcapplications.nda.edu.ng/#auth/register and create an account.

After you’ve successfully created an account, you need to login and select “Pay Online”. Payment can be made either online via the portal or via REMITA Retrieval Reference RRR at any Nigerian bank of choice.

After the payment, you move straight to upload documents. Make sure you go along with the documents during screening for verification.

To be uploaded along with your other documents is the application form downloaded from the website. After you’ve done that, you move straight to downloading the Acknowledgment Form. After which you keep calm as your application is reviewed.

If you are found eligible, you are invited to the screening exercise.

Come along with their Acknowledgement Form, Screening Test Admission Card, JAMB result slip and two (2) postcard size (3.5 x 5 inches) photographs to the Screening Test Centre.

The photographs should show only from the chest upwards and should contain the candidate’s Name, Exam number. State, Exam Centre, Course of study and Signature at the back.

Only successful candidates at the NDA Screening Test will subsequently be invited for the Armed Forces Selection Board (phase 2 of the screening test) following which the list of admitted candidates will be published.