The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Farouk Mijinyawa, has charged military commanders at all levels to uphold professionalism and enforce strict supervision of their troops to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He made the call during his closing remarks at the 81 Division Officers Training Week held at the Calf Officers Mess, TA Lagbaja Cantonment, Ikeja, Lagos, on June 24, 2025.
Major General Mijinyawa stressed that consistent and quality training is crucial to attaining proficiency across units and formations of the Nigerian Army, especially in light of the country’s growing security challenges. He further highlighted the role of junior leadership in shaping effective field operations.
“The training week was an avenue for officers to sharpen their tactical-level planning skills, which is critical to improving military operations, especially within Lagos State,” he stated, while urging participants to put the lessons learned into practice.
Earlier, the Commander of 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Olawale Oyekola, had welcomed officers to the event, emphasizing the theme: “Developing Capacity for Officers to Meet the Contemporary Challenges in a Joint Environment.” He encouraged open dialogue and active engagement throughout the training.
In a vote of thanks, Colonel Ibrahim Sheriff, Chief of Staff at Headquarters 9 Brigade, expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for his unwavering support to the Division. He also acknowledged the leadership of the GOC and the efforts of all formation and unit commanders who contributed to the success of the training programme.
The Training Week featured lectures on critical topics such as “Impact of Effective Leadership on Operational Efficiency: The Role of Junior Commanders,” “Maintaining Discipline Among Personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” and “Approaches to Cardiovascular Health Promotion Amongst Nigerian Army Personnel.”
These sessions saw active participation from junior commanders, commanding officers, staff officers, and other key personnel within the Division. The event was rounded off with the presentation of souvenirs and group photographs.