No fewer than 718 military personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force have indicated interest in exiting active service and have been enrolled for retirement training at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC).
The personnel, comprising corporals, sergeants, warrant officers and master warrant officers, were inducted into Course 1/2026 of the Centre, a programme designed to prepare retiring service members for life after active military service.
Inducting the participants, the Commandant of the Centre, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ignatius Ilo, cautioned that civilian life differs significantly from the regimented military environment, describing it as highly competitive. He urged participants to adjust their mindset, manage expectations and place priority on family welfare.
“Once you leave here, it is you and your family. That is when you truly understand the meaning of family first,” AVM Ilo said.
He described the NAFRC as a “citadel of courage and hope,” established to equip retiring personnel with the skills required for a meaningful and productive civilian life. Congratulating the participants on their nomination to what he termed a highly coveted retirement course, the Commandant noted that the six-month programme was carefully structured to promote self-reliance through practical and entrepreneurial training.
According to him, the Centre provides quality training, research and consultancy services aimed at helping participants navigate post-service challenges. He added that alumni of the Centre had gone on to become successful entrepreneurs across various sectors of the economy.
AVM Ilo stressed the importance of discipline, diligence and effective time management, warning participants against rigidly imposing military regimentation in civilian engagements. He also reiterated strict adherence to Defence Headquarters’ directives on social media usage, cautioning that violations would attract severe disciplinary measures, including dismissal from the course.
The Commandant expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Minister of Defence, and the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for their continued support, assuring participants of a safe, clean and conducive learning environment throughout the programme.
Earlier, the Director of Training at the Centre, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, disclosed that out of the total number nominated, 718 participants were seated on parade after being duly received, documented, accommodated and medically screened.
He said the medical screening exercise declared 85 participants medically unfit, while 15 others were yet to report. Those found medically unfit were returned to their units to continue treatment closer to their families. He added that the Centre would maintain contact with them for documentation and biometric capture to enable their eventual graduation alongside their course mates.
Brigadier General Akpaumontia reiterated that the NAFRC’s mandate focuses on entrepreneurship and management training to ensure seamless reintegration into civil society after about 25 years of military service. He described the Centre as a world-class institution equipped with skilled manpower and modern facilities to achieve its objectives.
Participants were urged to maximize the opportunities provided by the programme. The Centre noted that following documentation and medical screening, participants had undergone workshops, counselling sessions and guided tours of vocational and recreational facilities to help them select appropriate skills.
The Commandant further emphasized that the course is fully residential, warning that unauthorized absence from training or parade would not be tolerated. Participants, particularly senior non-commissioned officers and warrant officers, were reminded to act as good ambassadors of their respective services.
