… Defence Chiefs Endorse Initiative as Commandant Urges Early Preparation for Life Beyond Military Service
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, has inaugurated the Mid and Senior Level Officers’ Entrepreneurship and Management Course 17/2026, with a strong call on participants to begin early preparation for life after active military service.
The Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ignatius Ilo, formally declared the course open on Tuesday at the Centre’s Resource Complex, marking the first quarterly edition of the programme for 2026.
Addressing the 40 selected officers, Ilo described their nomination as both a privilege and a responsibility, noting that the course is designed to equip them with the mindset, discipline and strategic competencies required to succeed in the civilian business environment. Although not a pre-retirement programme, he stressed that the training is structured to help officers navigate post-service challenges with confidence and foresight.
Highlighting NAFRC’s track record, the Commandant disclosed that over 49,000 senior non-commissioned officers have benefitted from its resettlement programmes, with 724 personnel currently undergoing Course 1/2026. He added that many graduates of the Centre now operate successful small and medium-scale enterprises across Nigeria.
Ilo explained that the extension of entrepreneurship training to serving officers followed approval by Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the Empretec Nigeria Foundation, a private-sector initiative affiliated with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). To date, more than 312 senior officers from the Armed Forces and other security agencies have participated in the initiative.
Emphasising the demands of entrepreneurship, Ilo noted that success goes beyond innovative ideas, requiring strategic management, adaptability, financial literacy and resilience. Quoting former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Baba Abubakar, he remarked that “the race to success has no finish line,” urging participants to remain committed to continuous growth.
He also commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Service Chiefs and heads of defence agencies for supporting the programme through officer nominations, while acknowledging the Minister of Defence and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustained institutional backing of capacity-building initiatives.
In a symbolic highlight of the event, Ilo formally inaugurated the participants “singly and collectively” as members of Course 17/2026, drawing applause from senior officers and dignitaries present.
Earlier, the Director of Training, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, revealed that 23 officers were nominated for the mid-level and 17 for the senior-level course from Defence Headquarters, the Defence Intelligence Agency, Defence Space Administration and the three Armed Services. He added that the programme, previously held biannually, will now run quarterly to expand access and enhance impact.
Akpaumontia further outlined the course curriculum, which begins with modules in agricultural management and entrepreneurship, covering both crop and animal production. Participants will also embark on strategic study tours to key institutions, including Spectra Industries in Agege, the Nigerian Conservation Centre in Lekki, Commint Buka in Surulere, and an international excursion to Songhai Farms in Porto-Novo, Benin Republic.
In a goodwill message delivered on her behalf by Dr. Lemmy Omololu, Director at Empretec Nigeria Foundation, Dr. Mrs. Onari Duke congratulated the Commandant and reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to strengthening leadership and enterprise capacity among military personnel. She described retirement as a transition into new opportunities for value creation, employment generation and national development, urging participants to approach the course with discipline, curiosity and purpose.
