Graduands of the Senior and Mid-Level Officers’ Entrepreneurship and Management Course 18/2026 have been urged to uphold the values of the Nigerian Armed Forces and deploy the knowledge acquired during their training towards national development and economic growth.
The charge was given by the Admiral Superintendent of Naval Dockyard Limited, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, during the graduation ceremony held on Tuesday at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Resource Centre in Oshodi, Lagos.
Rear Admiral Shehu, who served as the Special Guest of Honour, described the programme as an important initiative designed to prepare military personnel for productive and self-reliant lives after active service. He noted that entrepreneurship and management skills had become increasingly necessary for personnel transitioning into civilian life, especially in a rapidly evolving economic environment.
Addressing the graduands, he urged them to become worthy ambassadors of both the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre by applying the lessons learned during the programme to promote peace, innovation and sustainable development in their communities.
According to him, the training represented more than a routine academic exercise, as it equipped officers with practical tools needed to navigate post-service realities while contributing meaningfully to the nation’s economy.
The graduation ceremony brought together senior military officers, instructors, management staff and representatives of partner organisations who gathered to celebrate the successful completion of the course by the participating officers.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, commended the graduands for their discipline, commitment and resilience throughout the duration of the training.
He expressed appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff and the various Service Chiefs for their continued support towards capacity-building and professional development initiatives within the Armed Forces. According to him, such programmes remain critical in preparing personnel for leadership responsibilities and future opportunities beyond military service.
Air Vice Marshal Ilo also acknowledged the contributions of the management staff of NAFRC and the Empretec Nigeria Foundation towards the successful execution of the course. He specifically commended the foundation, led by Her Excellency Mrs Onari Duke, for its partnership and commitment to entrepreneurship development among military personnel.
The Commandant emphasised that the centre remained committed to empowering service members with practical and vocational skills capable of improving their socio-economic wellbeing after retirement from active duty.
Highlighting the structure and content of the programme, the Director of Training, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, disclosed that 17 officers successfully completed the course.
He explained that the training was organised in collaboration with the Empretec Nigeria Foundation and the Songhai Farming Community, both of which provided specialised expertise in entrepreneurship and agricultural development.
According to Brigadier General Akpaumontia, participants underwent intensive sessions covering agriculture, emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, business management and leadership development.
The training activities, he added, included classroom lectures, practical workshops and study tours to notable organisations within and outside Nigeria, aimed at exposing participants to successful business models and innovative management practices.
He noted that the programme was carefully designed to equip officers with the entrepreneurial mindset and managerial competence required to thrive in civilian ventures and contribute positively to national productivity.
Observers at the ceremony described the graduation as another milestone in the ongoing efforts by the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre to prepare military personnel for life after service through education, vocational development and entrepreneurship training.
Over the years, NAFRC has continued to play a strategic role in supporting retiring and serving military personnel by providing them with practical skills capable of ensuring economic self-reliance and smoother reintegration into civilian society.
For the graduands, the completion of Course 18/2026 marked not only the end of an intensive training exercise but also the beginning of a new phase of leadership, innovation and service beyond the barracks.
The ceremony ended with presentations, commendations and renewed calls for military personnel to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to personal growth, national development and sustainable economic empowerment.
