The Nigerian Army has trained senior non-commissioned officers serving under the 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, on leadership, discipline and professionalism to improve their operational effectiveness amid evolving security challenges.
The five-day Leadership Awareness and Development Course was designed to equip participants with contemporary leadership skills to enhance 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 (GOC), 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, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Headquarters 8 Division, Brigadier General Ibrahim Gambari, said the philosophy was aimed at developing “a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force” capable of effectively discharging its constitutional responsibilities in a joint and multi-agency environment.
He described the course as a strategic intervention to strengthen the leadership capacity of senior non-commissioned officers and improve their performance in carrying out their duties.
According to him, the training would help participants identify leadership gaps, enhance service delivery and improve cooperation among security agencies.
He urged the officers to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme in their respective units, stressing that effective leadership, discipline and professionalism were essential to operational success.
“The knowledge gained from this course should translate into improved leadership, discipline and professionalism in your various units,” he said.
The GOC also cautioned participants against the misuse of social media, emphasising the importance of responsible conduct and effective communication during military operations.
He further stressed that cooperation and coordination among security agencies were critical to success in joint operations.
In his remarks, 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 programme was specifically designed to address the demands of combat leadership.
He noted that senior non-commissioned officers occupied critical positions in military operations and were expected to demonstrate discipline, competence and commitment, particularly when faced with difficult operational situations.
Myam said the course was intended to strengthen participants’ creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking and other modern leadership skills needed 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 reassess existing assumptions, broaden their perspectives and develop 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 programme featured sessions on leadership frameworks, inter-agency collaboration, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, the implications of social media misuse, leadership during crises and war, and 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 course for senior non-commissioned officers serving under the 8 Division and Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, as part of broader efforts to strengthen military leadership, promote professionalism and improve operational effectiveness.
