The Commander of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Major General Kevin Aligbe, has called for stronger civil-military relations and the revival of a reading culture among students and Army personnel.
Speaking at the 2025 TRADOC Library Day in Minna, Major General Aligbe reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to promoting education by providing library resources and learning materials to schools within the cantonment and surrounding communities.
He disclosed that more than 4,000 children from four schools, 80 percent of whom are from the host community, benefit annually from the Army’s education support programme. Each child, he noted, receives exercise books, pencils, biros, rulers, and other learning tools to last a full academic session.
“In 2023, we distributed about 31,000 exercise books. In 2024, we shared almost the same number. This year, we are giving out 28,000 exercise books alongside other materials. This shows our commitment to education, not only for soldiers’ children but also for children in the community,” General Aligbe said.
He said that “the initiative aims to make the children ambassadors of the Nigerian Army, reflecting the institution’s non-discriminatory approach between officers’ children and those from surrounding communities.”
General Aligbe commended TRADOC leadership and staff for their support, and expressed gratitude to sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Air Force, for joining the programme.
He urged participants to make the best use of the study period to enhance their knowledge and problem-solving capacity.
The Director of the Army Training Support Centre, TRADOC, Major General Awwal Gumel Mahmuda said “the programme aligned with the Army’s 2025 focus of refreshing officers, soldiers, and students of the host community on contemporary developments in library resource use.”
General Mahmuda lamented the underutilisation of libraries due to a declining reading culture and called for renewed efforts to reverse the trend.
“It is hoped that the resource persons and discussants will do justice to the subject matter. I urge all participants to open their minds and broaden their knowledge on modern approaches to library application, especially in this era of technological development,” he said.
The Library Day event, part of TRADOC’s 2025 training calendar, was held under the theme: “Regenerating Knowledge-Based Nigerian Army Personnel in a Dynamic Society for Effective Military Service.”
PIAK