Joy Anyim
To better equip personnel of the Nigerian Army and sister security agencies with the required skills to plan and effectively execute operations, the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, on Monday, inaugurated the 2019 Operations Planning Cadre, in Lagos.
With the theme ‘Sustaining Capacity as a key to Successful Conduct of Military Operations other than War’, the training which is expected to run from April 2 to April 5, 2019 was inaugurated at the 81 Division Officers Mess, Victoria Island.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Sanni Yusuf, who gave the opening remark to officially kick-start the training emphasised that the Cadre was designed to improve the operational planning skills of Commanders and staff officers in both joint and single services operations.
The GOC said the skills acquired from the training will further enhance synergy, professionalism in dealing with prevailing security challenges in the country and expose the officers to aspects of military operations other than war.
Yusuf who was represented by the 35 Artillery Brigade Commander, Brig. -Gen. Olaniyi Olatunde said, “ This theme was carefully crafted taking into cognizance the place of training in building a professional army that is the pride of any nation.
“Adjunct to this is the imperative to churn out well trained personnel that will efficiently confront the prevailing security challenges faced by the country.
“ Let me use this opportunity to remind us of the high premium the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), attaches to training and re-taining which is one of the key pivots of his vision which is ‘To have a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles’.
“Arising from the aformentioned and as the 2019 training cycle gathers momentum, 81 Division is poised to pursing the full implementation of the Army Headquaters training directive 2019.
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“ As we commence the operations planning Cadre for the year 2019, let us not lose sight of the fact that the cadre is aimed at availing participants of the necessary capabilities and competences that they require to successfully plan future operations while also providing the opportunity to promote synergy and co-operation with sister services.
“As you are all aware, the security challenges we face today are both real and daunting and therefore require a renewed vigor by commanders at all levels to tackle.
“It is in realisation of this fact and consistent with the Chief of Army staff vision that this operational planning cadre is organised by 81 Division.”
Gen. Yusuf further reteriated that the topics and resource persons have been carefully selected and designed to reflect current realities on the ground as well as to enable participants derive maximum benefits from the cadre.
“In this direction, the programme has been deliberately tailored to focus on military decision making process, estimate process, logistics planning and social media influence and it’s effect on military operations amongst others.
He, therefore, urged participants to apply themselves to all that will be taught in the Cadre, saying, “ Tap from the wealth of knowledge and experiences of the resource persons in order for you to apply same in the field. It is hoped that at the end of the cadre, the set objectives would be met thereby making you better officers able to discharge your constitutional roles professionally. ”
The Special Guest at the occasion was the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command, Lagos, who was represented by Air Commodore Paul Masiyer.
Personnel from the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Air Force, The Nigeria Prison Service, ihe Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies were represented.
