Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has commended the ongoing veterans’ skills acquisition initiative, describing it as a strategic effort to improve the livelihoods of retired military personnel and their families, while protecting them from economic instability.
Gen. Musa made this known at the opening of a three-day Skills Acquisition Training for Veterans in the South-East geopolitical zone, held on Thursday at the 82 Division Headquarters, Enugu.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the CDS said the training was part of the Defence Headquarters’ broader initiative to enhance the welfare of military veterans.
According to him, the programme is designed to equip retirees of the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force with relevant skills to help them cope with the challenges of the prevailing economic climate.
“A key challenge confronting our veterans is the significant decline in the purchasing power of their earnings, which negatively impacts their quality of life and that of their families,” he said.
“The ongoing economic downturn, coupled with limited access to alternative income sources, creates a persistent cycle of need.
“In response to this long-standing concern, I have directed the Veterans Affairs Division to implement a nationwide Skills Acquisition Training Programme tailored to each of the six geopolitical zones.”
The CDS expressed delight that veterans were being actively included in the military’s broader welfare initiatives.
“Indeed, veterans remain vital stakeholders in our mission to improve living standards across the board,” he added.
Gen. Musa explained that the training would cover a wide range of vocational and agribusiness skills, including poultry farming, fishery, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock management, irrigation systems, and modern crop farming techniques.
Participants, he said, would also receive training in financial literacy, record keeping, agro-produce processing and packaging, marketing strategies, and business opportunity identification.
“As someone with personal experience in farming, I appreciate the immense value this initiative holds and the opportunities it presents. The core objective is to equip participants with practical skills to establish and sustain viable agricultural ventures,” he noted.
Earlier, the Director of Veterans Affairs Division at the Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Danladi Salihu, expressed appreciation to the CDS for his consistent support and logistical backing for the training.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Brig.-Gen. Caius Baushe, Salihu urged participants to embrace the training wholeheartedly.
“Without the CDS’s leadership and commitment, this gathering would not have been possible,” he said.
He added that the training aligns with the CDS’s leadership vision to ensure the holistic welfare and well-being of both serving and retired military personnel across the country.
