By Lawrence Audu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja has charged Commandants of the Nigerian Army training schools to remain focused in the discharge of their mandates and to implement policies on Doctrine and Training designed to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army (NA).
Lagbaja gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the week-long 2024 Training and Doctrine Command Conference at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Headquarters, Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday 9th January 2024.
The COAS who were represented by the Chief of Training (COT), Nigerian Army, Major General Sani Gambo Mohammed, described the theme of the conference which is “Enhancing Operational Effectiveness in a Joint Environment Through Tailor-Made Training”, as very apt considering the security challenges the country is currently facing. He also stated that the theme was carefully chosen with particular emphasis on jointness in line with his Command philosophy which is “To transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities Within a Joint Environment”.
The COAS therefore reiterated the need for the participants who are the Commandants of Nigerian Army Training Schools and Field Commanders to apply tailored-approached training and develop the capacity and resourcefulness of the NA personnel to swiftly respond to any security infractions across the theatre of operations in the country. He maintained that the Nigerian Army will continue to plan, train, and execute various military operations in line with its extant Doctrine 22 which is codified as Proactive Responsive Doctrine. He also urged participants to take full advantage of the conference to cross-fertilize ideas through robust interactions and active participation in all deliberations towards enhanced operational effectiveness.
The COAS thanked the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his support to the Nigerian Army and also thanked the Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru and the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, for providing excellent guidance and support to the Nigerian Army.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Host and Commander of TRADOC, Major General Kevin Aligbe described the conference as a strategic platform for robust interaction and brainstorming among the participants. The Commander emphasized that the tailor-made approach to training is to develop the capacity to respond to the multi-faceted security challenges currently bedevilling the nation adding that Doctrine development stipulates how the Army is organised and trained to fight. He therefore called for stronger collaboration and cooperation among security Agencies in the ongoing fight against adversaries.
The conference which attracted One Hundred and Twenty Commandants of various training institutions, and Field Commanders, featured the presentation of papers by carefully selected eminent resource persons which include the Force Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Major General IS Ali and the inventor of Ezugwu MRAP, Major General Victor Ezugwu (rtd), among several others.
The TRADOC NA Doctrine and Training Conference 2024 ended on Thursday 12th January 2024 with the Commander TRADOC, Major General Kevin Aligbe thanking the Chief of Army Staff for providing an enabling environment for the conduct of the conference and urging the participants to effectively deploy the knowledge gained from the conference towards making a difference in their Areas of Responsibility.
Other high points of the closing ceremony of the conference were the presentation of souvenirs to the Special Guest of Honour, resource persons and other dignitaries. Other activities included a cocktail party in honour of the participants at the TRADOC Officers’ Mess.
