The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Abiodun Lagbaja, on Wednesday, restated his commitment to training of Officers and men of the Nigerian Army for professional service delivery and meeting contemporary challenges.
Lagbaja stated this at a 4-day Second Senior Command and Leadership Seminar 2023 tagged ” Capacity Development of Nigerian Army Personnel to Meet Contemporary Security Challenges in a Joint Environment”, in Sokoto.
The COAS was represented by Maj.-Gen. Aligbe Kelvin, Commander, Nigerian Army, Doctrine and Training Command.
He said the training was aimed at improving operational readiness to combat security challenges at different formations to meet contemporary challenges and leadership needs.
Lagbaja said that the seminar was in line with his vision of having a professional Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in the defence of Nigeria.
”I have a vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force.
” The myriad of security challenges the country is facing require officers and leaders to be equipped with the requisite knowledge to tackle the situation.
“Therefore, the Nigerian Army will continue to organise training and seminars to ensure we build professional personnel and leaders at all levels,” Lagbaja said.
He further stated that the seminar was intended to avail participants of the necessary capabilities and competencies required to successfully accomplish assigned missions, as it relates to emerging security threats.
The COAS added that topics and resource persons have been carefully selected and designed to reflect current realities on the ground as well as to enable participants to derive maximum benefits from the seminar.
According to him, the seminar has been deliberately tailored to focus on leadership at command levels, intelligence gathering, military decision making process, logistics planning, legal implications and human right issues, among others.
“As we continue to implement the Nigerian Army Forecast of Events and Training Directive for 2023, I implore you to seize the opportunity of this seminar to improve on your knowledge of leadership,” he said.
Lagbaja urged them to remain focused, share knowledge and experiences, and deploy the gains in improving service delivery.
He further enjoined the participants to sensitise others at respective Army formations for the effective discharge of duties, professionalism and excellence.
Lagbaja said that it would surely enhance operations as well as civil community relationships.
He expressed optimism that by the end of the seminar, the set objectives would have been met to enable them to discharge their constitutional roles professionally.
In his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of Nigerian Army Sokoto, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, thanked the COAS for giving the hosting right to the division.
Mukut said the training would improve the leadership qualities of the participants, improve on their level of endurance, discipline and also prepare them for more responsibilities.
He also appreciated the COAS for providing resources and funds for the seminar, saying that the gesture would go a long way in equipping the officers across the board.
The COAS had inaugurated the GOC’s official residence and Commander’s quarters in Giginya ‘Barracks while different topics were lined up for presentation by the resource persons for the next four days.
