The Nigerian Army Headquarters, Department of Transformation and Innovation, has trained personnel on warrior ethos, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and drug abuse to enhance the operational effectiveness of troops at the battle line.
Declaring the training open, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, described the seminar as apt and timely, as it offers a valuable platform for deep reflection and knowledge exchange aimed at strengthening the Nigerian Army’s effectiveness.
He said the seminar was well-positioned to bring to the fore the crucial role that warrior ethos plays in advancing the overall operational readiness of troops in the theatres of operation.
“It’s noteworthy that the entrenchment of warrior ethos especially at the unit level will ultimately ensure operational successes.
“This will be achieved through the advancement of characteristics such as fortitude, selfless service, both mental and physical resilience as well as vigilance.
“At the forefront of the fight against terrorism and insurgency, the Nigerian Army has continued to make immense sacrifices to safeguard the peace, security, stability and strategic interest of our beloved nation.
“However the dynamic and evolving nature of today’s threat environment demands a holistic approach to the conduct of our operations. Therefore the concept of ethos reflects these tenets with the overall aim of strengthening commitment to fight and ultimately prevail in all operational endeavors,” the Army Chief said.
General Waidi Shaibu, who was represented by the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Warah Idris, urged troops to always adhere to the tenets of COAS philosophy, which aims to “Advance the transformation of Nigeria Army in to a more professional, adaptable, combat-readiness and resilience force Capable Of Decisively Discharging its constitutional responsibility within a Joint and Multi-agency Environment.”
He commended the Army Department of Transformation and Innovation, under the leadership of General Abai, for organising the seminar, which is a clear demonstration of the Army’s unwavering commitment to operational readiness and robust administration.
He further expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous strategic guidance and support to the Nigerian Army.
“We reassured the unalloyed loyalty of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army under my watch to the President Commander-in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he reaffirmed.
Optimising the Leadership Capacity of Officers
In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation, Major General Olusegun Abai, said the seminar was organised to optimize the leadership capacity of junior and middle-cadre officers, as well as to intensify warrior ethos and check the menace of substance abuse among troops.
“This seminar is aimed at creating awareness and measures to suppress the post traumatic stress disorder among troops of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
He noted that the theme of the seminar: “Warrior Ethos: A Tool for Building Unit Cohesion and a Combat Ready Force,” is in line with the Chief of Army Staff command philosophy, which is to “ Advance the Transformation of Nigeria Army in to a more Professional, Adaptable, Combat-Readiness and Resilience Force Capable of Decisively Discharging its Constitutional Responsibility Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”
General Abai expressed his appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for his intellectual depth and visionary leadership in prioritizing the human element of troop operations.
He reassured the COAS of the commitments of the Department of Transformation and Innovation that it will not relent in its efforts towards the realisation of his command philosophy.
He further thanked the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander, Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgha Koughna, for his exceptional hospitality and facilitation of the gathering, despite intense operational commitments in his area of responsibility.
The Chief of Army Transformation and Innovation charged troops to take advantage of the seminar to enhance their operational effectiveness as professional soldiers.
The highlights of the seminar were presentations of three lectures by the experts and the presentation of souvenirs, among others.