The Nigerian Army has trained senior non-commissioned officers serving under the 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, in leadership, discipline and professionalism to enhance their operational performance amid changing security challenges.
The five-day Leadership Awareness and Development Course aimed to equip the officers with modern leadership skills to strengthen decision-making, crisis management and coordination during joint security operations.
The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, and Commander, Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Bemgba Koughna, said the training aligned with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy of building a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force.
Koughna, represented by the Chief of Staff, Headquarters 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibrahim Gambari, said the philosophy was intended to transform the Nigerian Army into “a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force” capable of effectively carrying out its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and multi-agency environment.
He described the programme as a strategic initiative to strengthen the leadership abilities of senior non-commissioned officers and enhance their effectiveness in performing their duties.
He added that the training would help participants identify leadership deficiencies, improve service delivery and foster collaboration among security agencies.
The GOC urged the officers to apply the lessons learnt during the course in their respective units, noting that leadership, discipline and professionalism were vital to achieving operational success.
“The knowledge gained from this course should translate into improved leadership, discipline and professionalism in your various units,” he said.
Koughna also cautioned the participants against the misuse of social media, stressing the importance of responsible conduct and effective communication in military operations.
He further emphasised that collaboration and proper coordination among security agencies were essential for success in joint operations.
Speaking during the programme, the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General James Gwaza Khalifa Myam (retd.), represented by Major General Ifiok Obot (retd.), said the course was specifically developed to address the demands of combat leadership.
He noted that senior non-commissioned officers played crucial roles in military operations and were expected to demonstrate discipline, competence and dedication, particularly when dealing with challenging operational situations.
Myam explained that the programme was designed to strengthen participants’ creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and other modern leadership skills required to navigate complex security environments.
“These skills are essential to enable personnel to adapt to and confront the evolving security challenges facing the nation,” he said.
He added that the training would encourage participants to question existing assumptions, expand their perspectives and adopt more effective approaches to leadership and operational decision-making.
“The course is designed to challenge your assumptions, broaden your perspectives and strengthen your capacity to address complex operational situations,” he said.
The five-day course featured sessions on leadership frameworks, inter-agency collaboration, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, social media misuse and its implications, leadership during crises and war, as well as the Constitution, Armed Forces Act and military justice system.
The sessions were facilitated by resource persons, including Major General Ifiok Obot (retd.), Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (retd.), Professor Okey Ikechukwu, Mrs Temitope Aiyedogbon and Colonel Cyril Oforumazi.
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre organised the programme for senior non-commissioned officers serving under the 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, as part of efforts to strengthen military leadership, promote professionalism and improve operational effectiveness.
