The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, on Thursday pledged N25 million to the Emergency Health Fund of the Course 39 Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) United Welfare Association (UWA), as part of efforts to strengthen the welfare of retired military personnel.
According to a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Col Appolonia Anele, Gen Shaibu made the pledge when members of the association’s Executive Committee, led by its President, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola (Rtd), paid a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
The Army Chief reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to the welfare of serving and retired personnel, saying caring for those who had served the country remained an enduring responsibility.
Gen Shaibu described sustained engagement with veterans and retired officers as an “important pillar of institutional development”, noting that their operational experience, professional knowledge and leadership expertise remained valuable to the Army.
According to him, “such engagements would strengthen institutional memory, mentorship and continuity, while providing useful perspectives for tackling contemporary security challenges.
“Caring for those who have served the nation remains an enduring responsibility and an important component of personnel welfare”
The Army Chief also outlined ongoing reforms aimed at building a more professional, adaptable, technologically enabled and combat-ready force.
He said the expansion of the Nigerian Army to 12 divisions and the integration of 28,000 recruits through regional training depots in Zaria, Osogbo and Amasiri Edda were designed to improve the Army’s operational reach and responsiveness across the country.
The COAS further added that the Army was also implementing a revised training curriculum with greater emphasis on marksmanship, physical fitness and fieldcraft to prepare troops for increasingly complex security environments.
He added that the Army was transitioning towards multi-domain operations by integrating space, cyber and non-kinetic capabilities, alongside developing Army aviation and unmanned aerial systems.
The initiatives, he said, were intended to enhance situational awareness, operational mobility and the Army’s ability to respond to emerging threats.
The Army Chief also highlighted the institutionalisation of the Senior Executive Transition Programme to better prepare retiring senior officers and their spouses for life after active service.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Daramola, congratulated Shaibu on his appointment as COAS and elevation to the rank of Lieutenant General.
He commended the Army Chief for efforts to strengthen the force structure and operational capabilities of the Army, while appreciating the support provided to the association, particularly in health insurance, emergency assistance and capacity-building programmes.
Daramola assured the COAS that members of Course 39 remained willing to deploy their operational, technical and leadership experience through mentorship, advisory support and specialised expertise in support of the Army’s objectives and national security.