The General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army Major General Obinna Ajunwa has tasked Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) in 81 Division to take advantage of the Leadership Awareness and Development Course 5/22.
The course was facilitated by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre to build their capacity toward enhanced performance in carrying out their civic responsibilities in line with the Chief of Army Staff Vision.
The GOC while inaugurating the participants of the Course noted that the course was carefully designed to train and equip the SNCOs with relevant leadership essentials in the attainment of the Nigerian Army goals and objectives.
He added that the Course would awaken the SNCOs to their responsibilities to lead effectively and bridge the obvious gaps between officers and soldiers, especially while operating in a joint environment.
Also the Director-General, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Major General Garba Wahab who felicitated the Course said that the course would be carried out in all the Nigerian Army Divisions across the country.
“We have been to 2 Division Ibadan, 6 Division Port Harcourt, 1 Division Kaduna and now we are in 81 Division. The essence of the course is to develop the leadership abilities of the SNCOs who are the bridge between the officer cadre and the soldiers”. He stated
He further disclosed that “Communication is essential because, without proper communication, you will get the wrong results thus, the essence of the training is to get correct results always,”.
According to the DG NARC, counter insurgency is supposed to be led by junior commanders, however, it is the very senior officers that are leading counterinsurgency which is not supposed to be so.
He noted that the best thing is to improve the leadership of those expected to be in the forefront and the SNCOs are the ones that go on patrol and prepare ambushes among other things so there is a need to raise the level of leadership in them, he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee Brigadier General Kingsley Nwoko while welcoming the participants noted that the Course was necessary at this critical time when the country is faced with myriads of security challenges.
He informed the participants that everyone with less rank is looking up to them for leadership and every one of higher rank is expecting them to provide that leadership.
He told the participants that the best welfare for a soldier is training and it is his humble conviction that they will leave the Course better informed and equipped with the requisite knowledge to further contribute effectively to the system.
The highlight of the first day of the Course includes lectures delivered by facilitators such as Dr Linus okorie who delivered a lecture on Leadership in the 21st Century and Mr Olajide Aribisala who delivered a lecture on Critical Thinking.
There was also a thought-provoking interactive session where participants were able to clear their doubts on issues regarding their civic responsibilities.