Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has called for a total overhaul of Nigeria\u2019s military recruitment and training systems to enhance the Army’s professionalism and operational readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delivering a keynote lecture during the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2025 at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Yahaya underscored the urgent need for uncompromising reforms in recruitment, training standards, and performance evaluation protocols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, courage, vigilance, and unwavering standards must define every phase of a soldier\u2019s journey\u2014from entry into service to active deployment. \u201cRecruitment into the Nigerian Defence Academy and Depot Nigerian Army must be rigorous and devoid of leniency. There is no place for weakness or mediocrity. We must be firm in eliminating unsuitable candidates at every stage,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yahaya further highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, noting that modern threats demand a paradigm shift in training approaches. He stressed the need to integrate modules on terrorism, asymmetric warfare, ideological extremism, and cyber threats into the military\u2019s training curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to conventional tactics, Yahaya advocated for the inclusion of strategic courses such as emotional intelligence, military psychology, counter-terrorism techniques, and digital-age awareness\u2014especially regarding social media influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComprehensive training will reinforce the ‘soldier-first’ philosophy in the minds of both instructors and recruits. It is critical we align our training focus with the realities of modern warfare,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also emphasized the importance of simulation-based learning and hands-on exercises that replicate real-life battlefield conditions. To achieve this, he urged military training institutions across the country to modernize their infrastructure to meet global standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yahaya encouraged stronger collaboration with international military institutions in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Pakistan, asserting that such partnerships would accelerate the transfer of tactical knowledge and enhance the technical proficiency of Nigerian personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must deepen engagements with allied nations through training exchanges. Our non-commissioned officers should gain wider access to international Junior Command, Regimentation, and Train-the-Trainer courses to improve standards,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He identified the capacity building of Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) as a strategic necessity, particularly for decentralized operations in high-risk zones like the North East and Lake Chad region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContemporary security threats require agile, small-unit combat operations rather than traditional mass formations. The Army must be able to fight with speed, precision, and flexibility through decentralized command guided by mission command principles,\u201d Yahaya stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that strengthening the tactical leadership of SNCOs would help bridge the gap in officer presence, especially in remote operational theaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yahaya concluded by emphasizing that any meaningful reform must remain soldier-centric\u2014focused on the welfare, professionalism, and effectiveness of personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe future of our Army rests on the soldier\u2014on how well we train, equip, and support him. Let us define our strategic vision clearly and pursue it with consistency and discipline,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His lecture formed part of the professional engagements marking NADCEL 2025, commemorating the 162nd anniversary of the Nigerian Army\u2019s founding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has called for a total overhaul of Nigeria\u2019s military recruitment and training systems to enhance the Army’s professionalism and operational…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pages"],"yoast_head":"\n