The Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ignatius Ilo, has stepped up engagements with sister military formations, key private sector players and research institutions, as part of a renewed strategy to strengthen vocational training, resettlement and post-service reintegration for retiring military personnel.
AVM Ilo received a high-level delegation from the Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Bobmanuel Kokoete Effiong. The visit focused on deepening inter-service relations and exploring collaborative frameworks that would enhance operational effectiveness across the Armed Forces. Rear Admiral Effiong emphasised the central role of doctrine in shaping naval operations and disclosed ongoing efforts to further strengthen NAVDOC.
Responding, the NAFRC Commandant stressed the importance of harmonised and standardised doctrine across the services, while outlining NAFRC’s mandate in vocational skills acquisition and resettlement training. He assured the delegation of the Centre’s readiness to collaborate with NAVDOC in support of shared Armed Forces objectives.
As part of his familiarisation tour to reinforce civil–military cooperation, AVM Ilo also paid a courtesy visit to Mouka Limited, where he commended the company for its sustained partnership with NAFRC. He highlighted the Centre’s role in equipping retiring service personnel with employable skills and called for deeper collaboration, particularly in creating employment opportunities for trained ex-service members. Mouka Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Femi Fapohunda, welcomed the Commandant and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its partnership with NAFRC.
In a similar inter-service engagement, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha (mni), paid a courtesy visit to the NAFRC Commandant. He explained that the visit was in line with the tradition of regular interaction among sister formations to strengthen synergy and operational understanding. The FOC outlined WNC’s operational responsibilities within the western maritime corridor and his role as Commander, Joint Task Force Operation AWATSE, expressing interest in practical areas of cooperation with NAFRC. He also commended the Centre’s progress and pledged continued support for its initiatives.
AVM Ilo, in his response, welcomed the delegation and reiterated NAFRC’s mandate in vocational, entrepreneurial and resettlement training, noting that closer collaboration with operational commands would further enhance the Centre’s impact.
Beyond military formations, the NAFRC Commandant extended his engagement drive to the private sector with a courtesy visit to Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group. He was received by the Group Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Savara, and members of the executive management, who acknowledged the company’s long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces and expressed willingness to deepen cooperation, particularly in employing retired military personnel. AVM Ilo thanked the management for its continued support and encouraged sustained collaboration to support the successful transition of disengaging service members into civilian life.
The partnership outreach also took AVM Ilo to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), where he paid a familiarisation visit following his assumption of office. The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, received the delegation and highlighted the benefits of FIIRO’s long-standing relationship with NAFRC, especially in the area of security and capacity building. She expressed the institute’s readiness to explore additional areas of collaboration.
In his remarks, AVM Ilo described the partnership with FIIRO as mutually beneficial, commending the institute’s growth and expanding international profile, which he attributed to strong leadership and sound institutional values. He assured the management of NAFRC’s commitment to deepening cooperation, noting that FIIRO’s extensive industrial research capabilities align with the Centre’s vocational training and resettlement objectives.
Overall, the series of engagements underscore NAFRC’s renewed focus under AVM Ilo on strengthening inter-service collaboration, expanding private sector partnerships and leveraging institutional expertise to deliver sustainable resettlement outcomes for Nigerian military personnel transitioning to civilian life.