In order to ensure that soldiers live a comfortable life after serving their father’s land, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, has commenced training for over 600 soldiers.

The Nation reports that Commandant NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Mike Iloenyosi, on Thursday, January 28 told newsmen that the training was to ensure retired military personnel have decent and sustainable livelihood.

Iloenyosi, inaugurated the soldiers into the six months pre-retirement course, disclosed that about 80% of the trainees were from the Nigerian Army, adding that the vocational training institution was set up to ensure smooth transition for retiring military personnel.

He said the trainees will be equipped with skills and trades that would enable them live a good life after retirement. He noted that the centre does not prepare officers for re-engagement in the military after retirement, reiterating that the lectures the trainees will receive are meant for profitable, self-sustainability and easy integration into the civil society.

“The training they get here is not to be redrafted for active service. The essence of this course is to give them vocational skills and entrepreneurial knowledge to be able to manage their resources more efficiently, as well as easily adapt to post – service life.

“These gallant soldiers have been in service for an average of 35 years and so, redrafting them into active or combat service is not the essence, rather, it is for them to be adequately prepared to manage their resources and package, so that if some of them have cottage industry, for instance, they will be able to run same well.

“You must call to mind that their capital base is minimal and so, we are interested in their being able to harness it through low capital budget ventures,” he said.

The commandant speaking to the training earlier disclosed that NAFRC had produced several successful graduates who are doing great in their acquired skills and are now employers of labour in the society.

“In the light of this, your stay here will enable you to learn a trade of your choice that will channel your integration into a smooth and rewarding civil life.  By the time you leave the centre, all of you would have become skilled professionals, ready to explore and exploit the outside business world, different perhaps from what you are used to.

“Invariably, you are here to develop yourselves; and your personal commitment, hard work and sacrifice will propel you to your desired end…Your success depends largely on how best you utilise the time available in the programme.

“This is a unique opportunity that enables you to acquire your chosen skill free-of-charge towards making life more meaningful and rewarding when you finally disengage from active service.

“If you do not complete this course, NAFRC will not issue you any certificate of completion. If you do not record at least 50% attendance, you will equally not be issued certificate of course completion,” he said.

Other top military officers at the event included; the Deputy Commandant, Maj.-Gen. L.W. Wiwa; Director Training, Brig.-Gen. Victor Nnorom; Commodore Aliyu Sule; Director Logistics, Commodore F.O Ezeogwu, among others.

The Nigerian Army recently remembered the 1, 000 soldiers and officers that lost their lives at the Ikeja military cantonment in January 2002.  The cantonment was a large military facility and storage area in the city of Lagos. The base was being used to store a large quantity of “high calibre bombs”, as well as other sundry explosives. There was massive bomb blast after a wide fire spread from a nearby market to the cantonment.