The Nigerian Army has restated its resolve to ensuring that troops have the needed equipment to perform their duties effectively.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Olufemi Oluyede gave the assurance at a lecture in commemoration of this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration-NADCEL, held at the NDA auditorium in Kaduna.
Lt General Olufemi Oluyede explained that the Nigerian Army would continue to seek for transformation beyond structural changes, aimed at fostering selflessness and commitment to duty in service to the nation.
He noted that the renewed drive towards ensuring soldiers first has influenced the Army’s policies in some key areas.
Lt General Olufemi Oluyede pointed out that the soldier first concept underscores the need to providing quality housing, healthcare and family support systems.
The Army Chief re-iterated his determination in establishing merit-based promotions, commendations and awards to deserving individuals.
According to General Oluyede, the Nigerian Army would continue to promote the fundamentals of fairness, which would improve trust within the ranks and enhance professional conduct.
The guest lecturer and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Faruk Yahaya(rtd) emphasised the prioritization of the soldier, his training, well-being and his requisite needs.
According to him, the requisite needs for preparing the Nigerian Army for the soldier first concept include providing purposeful leadership, improved standard of discipline and uplifting the morale of a soldier.
Lt General Yahaya maintained that the soldier first concept when fully actualized, would elevate to a much higher level of the Nigerian Army’s skills, competences, performance, effectiveness and enhance operational success in the face of milti-faceted security challenges.
Highpoint of the event were panel discussion by senior serving and retired officers, Chief of Army Staff literary competition, theme exhibition and presentation of awards.
The theme of the lecture is: The Soldier First Concept and the future of the Nigerian Army: Shaping a new culture for Army Transformation”
The event had in attendance, former Chiefs of Army Staff, serving and retired officers from various formations and units of the Army, among other important guests.
Usman Sani.
