Abuja: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to developing a highly motivated and combat-ready force through structured career planning and digital transformation. Oluyede gave the assurance at the opening of the 6th Career Planning and Management Seminar for Officers, organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the seminar’s theme is ‘Effective Career Planning for Nigerian Army Officers: Imperative for a Well-Motivated and Combat-Ready Force within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment’. Represented by the Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdulsalam, the COAS emphasised that career development is a critical pillar in maintaining a professional and effective military. He highlighted the army’s ongoing efforts to modernise career management by ensuring that officers are deployed based on their skills and competencies.
The COAS commended the Department of the Military Secretary for digitising officers’ records and urged them to accelerate the rollout of an electronic performance evaluation report set for 2025. He noted the importance of preparing and motivating officers to enhance operational effectiveness and boost morale within the force. Oluyede reiterated his vision for a digitally advanced and combat-effective Army and encouraged officers to embrace career planning as a tool for professional growth and operational success.
The initiative reflects the Nigerian army’s broader reforms aimed at strengthening personnel development and improving military readiness. Oluyede stated that efficient career planning and management are crucial for preparing personnel to deal with present and future threats. He called for continual improvement in career planning and management to ensure the army remains professional in discharging its duties.
The Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Everest Okoro, highlighted the seminar’s focus on achieving motivated and combat-ready Nigerian army officers through recruitment, appointments, and deployments within a joint and multi-agency environment. Okoro also mentioned that the seminar aims to encourage participants to approach military resource management contemporarily to improve career planning at all levels.
In his lecture, the former Military Secretary, retired Maj.-Gen. Shehu Abdulkadir, discussed the critical need for a modernised human resource management system in the Nigerian army. Abdulkadir suggested a comprehensive talent management system, similar to that employed by the US Army, to identify and promote personnel based on skills, experience, and leadership potential. He emphasised that ongoing reforms should focus on balancing personnel within the army and ensuring data-driven, transparent, and long-term personnel development decisions.