Efficient career planning key to tackling security challenges – COAS

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Waidi Shaibu says efficient career planning and management of officers in the Nigerian Army is key to achieving operational success and tackling security challenges.

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Shaibu said this while declaring open the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Career Planning and Management Seminar 2026 in Abuja on Tuesday.

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He said that the theme of the seminar, “Efficient Career Planning and Management of Officers, the Key to Advancing the Transformation of the Nigerian Army Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment’, was relevant and topical.

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Represented by the Chief of Personnel Management (Army), Maj.-Gen. Adewale Adekeye, the COAS, said that the significance of the seminar could not be overstated, as it remained the backbone of productivity, efficiency, and the overall institutional success of the Army.

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”We all know that the eroding nature of warfare requires that the Army must be proactive, innovative, and resilient in addressing the multidimensional threats that are facing our generation today.

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”Experts have proven that when officers are deployed in line with their competencies, skills, and abilities, their output will be optimised and this ensures we record operational successes.

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”This, therefore, brings to the fore the need for the efficient career planning management of personnel and in this case, the officer’s corps.

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”This is in order to derive maximum benefits from their leadership potentials and individual capacity.”

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Shaibu also said that as the world evolved, the Nigerian Army must anticipate, adapt, and innovate if they were to effectively and comprehensively tackle the myriad of security threats confronting the nation as directed by the Commander in Chief.

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”We must significantly realise that these daunting challenges facing the country are tormenting.

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”The Nigerian Army is actually succeeding across the broad channels of operations, and this is a testament to the resilience and professionalism of our personnel,” he said.

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Shaibu commended the squad for their display of gallantry and professionalism in carrying out their duties.

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He stressed that the Army must continually seek new approaches to career planning and management to produce the right personnel to deal with present challenges.

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He added that the seminar would expose participants to new human resource management models and enhance their understanding of the critical role they play as coursework managers.

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He urged participants to participate actively and share ideas to enhance career planning and management policies.

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According to him, the seminar aims to equip you with the knowledge and insights required for effective career planning and management, essential for achieving a rewarding and fulfilling career in the Nigerian Army.

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He commended the Department of the Military Secretary for organising the seminar and urged the department to leverage technology to improve posting, appointments, and reporting of officers.

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The Military Secretary (Army), Maj.-Gen. Ifeanyi Okoro, in his opening remarks emphasised the importance of efficient career planning and management of officers in the Nigerian Army to enhance professionalism and combat readiness.

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Okoro said that the theme focused on enhancing functionality and career development through requisite trainings, postings, promotions, and appointments.

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He said that the seminar aimed to reinforce sound administration and professional excellence, aligning with the COAS’ command philosophy to transform the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptive, and combat-ready force.

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He expressed confidence that the seminar would offer participants new perspectives and understanding to engender a rewarding career path in the Nigerian Army.

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The Military Secretary commended the resource persons for sharing their expertise and insights, enriching the learning experience of participants.

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He acknowledged the support of the Army, Defence, and Services Headquarters, as well as forebears and mentors, particularly former military secretaries and deputy secretaries.

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He urged participants to approach the seminar with an open mind, ready to absorb and learn, and to invest efforts in improving career planning and management processes.

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Okoro emphasised the importance of continuous professional development and urged participants to seize the opportunity to learn and share ideas.

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The event features a balanced programme with rich content, covering wide-ranging subjects related to career planning and management.

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The key note lecture titled ”Military Human Resource Management: A Catalyst for the Transformative Drive of the Nigeria Army”, was delivered by retired Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Abdullahi.

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