COAS Tasks Graduating Soldiers on Professionalism, Operational Excellence
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged soldiers graduating from Exercise RESTORE HOPE X to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and operational excellence as they prepare for deployment to the Nigerian Army’s newly established divisions, formations and units.
The Army Chief gave the charge on Friday during the graduation ceremony of the Advanced Infantry Training Programme, codenamed Exercise RESTORE HOPE X, held at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATC), Kachia, Kaduna State.
Lieutenant General Shaibu described the programme as the flagship of the Nigerian Army’s post-basic infantry training framework, designed to sharpen combat proficiency, strengthen the warrior ethos and prepare soldiers for the complex realities of modern military operations.
He noted that the graduation comes at a critical stage in the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Army, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the restructuring and expansion of the Service through the establishment of additional divisions, formations and units to enhance operational effectiveness and address evolving security challenges across the country.
According to the COAS, many of the graduating soldiers will form the nucleus of the newly created formations and are expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to improve operational performance in their respective areas of deployment.
Lieutenant General Shaibu urged the graduands to justify the investment made in their training by demonstrating professionalism, sound judgment and unwavering commitment to duty. He encouraged them to remain physically fit, mentally resilient and technologically proficient while adapting to emerging security threats, embracing innovation and maintaining strict adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and the rules of engagement.
The Army Chief also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued support to the Nigerian Army’s operational, training and administrative requirements, describing the President’s sustained investment as instrumental to the ongoing transformation and force expansion of the Service.
He stressed that continuous investment in realistic and mission-oriented training remains essential to building a highly skilled and combat-ready force capable of effectively addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.
Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General Valentine Okoro, described Exercise RESTORE HOPE X as a vital component of the Nigerian Army’s training architecture, noting that it has consistently produced highly motivated and combat-ready soldiers who have distinguished themselves in various operational theatres.
He explained that the comprehensive programme exposed participants to realistic operational scenarios, tactical operations, marksmanship, field craft, combat endurance, leadership development and counter-insurgency operations, significantly improving their confidence, decision-making abilities and battlefield competence.
Major General Okoro added that the exercise has further strengthened the Nigerian Army’s institutional capacity by standardising post-basic infantry training, enhancing instructional methods and promoting continuous improvement across its training establishments.
COAS Tasks Graduating Soldiers on Professionalism, Operational Excellence