By Stella Odueme
The Nigerian Army has organised a five-day Leadership Awareness and Development Course for senior non-commissioned officers of 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to strengthen their leadership capacity, operational efficiency and professionalism.
The course was designed to equip participants with contemporary leadership skills to enhance discipline, improve service delivery and enable them to respond effectively to evolving security challenges.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division and Commander, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgba Koughna, stated this through the Chief of Staff, Headquarters 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibrahim Gambari, who represented him at the programme.
According to a statement by the Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Acting Deputy Director, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, on Thursday, Koughna welcomed the participants and expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Army Resource Centre for facilitating the training.
He said the initiative aligned with the Chief of Army Staff's Command Philosophy, which seeks to transform the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of discharging its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and multi-agency environment.
The GOC described the course as a strategic intervention aimed at equipping senior non-commissioned officers with the requisite skills to improve their performance and leadership effectiveness.
He added that the training would help participants better understand their responsibilities and address existing gaps in the military system, particularly in joint and inter-agency operations.
Koughna urged the officers to pay close attention to the training and apply the knowledge acquired to promote effective leadership, discipline and professionalism within the ranks.
He also cautioned them against the misuse of social media, stressing the importance of effective coordination and cooperation in joint military operations.
In his remarks at the inauguration, the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General James Gwaza Khalifa Myam (rtd), represented by Major General Ifiok Obot (rtd), said the course was specifically designed to address the demands of combat leadership.
He noted that senior non-commissioned officers carried significant leadership responsibilities that required exceptional discipline, competence and commitment.
The representative of the Director-General explained that the programme sought to improve creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and other contemporary leadership skills among Nigerian Army and paramilitary personnel.
According to him, the training would prepare participants to adapt to emerging security threats while challenging existing assumptions, broadening their perspectives and strengthening their leadership capabilities.
Topics covered during the course included leadership framework, inter-agency collaboration and cooperation, emotional intelligence and critical thinking, social media misuse and its implications, leadership in crisis and war, as well as the Constitution, Armed Forces Act and military justice system.
Resource persons included Major General Ifiok Obot (rtd), Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd), Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Mrs Temitope Aiyedogbon and Colonel Cyril Oforumazi.