Kano: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has commended the Nigerian Army’s Combat Support Arms for their commitment to innovation and improved operational effectiveness.
Oluyede gave the commendation on Thursday at the 2025 Combat Support Arms Training Week closing ceremony in Kano.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Usman Yusuf, Commander of the Infantry Corps, applauded the efforts of the participants and resource persons, saying that the training exposed officers to emerging technologies critical to modern military operations.
“The beneficiaries of this training are now better informed about the importance of developing and acquiring modern technologies to support our operations,” he said.
Oluyede added that the well-curated lectures, discussions, and interactive sessions offered immense value to all the participants.
The COAS also acknowledged the contributions of both serving and retired officers, whose experience enriched the programme.
He commended the organisers for executing a successful event despite the prevailing security challenges.
According to him, combat support arms’ relevance to kinetic and non-kinetic operations cannot be overstated.
Oluyede urged the Commanders to integrate key lessons and recommendations from the training into their operations to enhance professionalism.
“Army Headquarters charges you to invest in your troops by delivering leadership that reflects the values of honour, integrity, discipline, selfless service and professionalism,” he said.
The COAS stressed the importance of equipment maintenance, adding that while training shapes the soldier, equipment ensures effectiveness.
Oluyede reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to supporting Combat Support Arms and improving personnel welfare by his command philosophy.
He described the training as a platform for assessing operational capabilities and challenges across different theatres.
“You are the unseen strength, the strategic enabler, the flexible yet invaluable backbone of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
Also speaking, a participant, retired Maj.-Gen. Taritimiye Gagariga said the training highlighted the importance of leveraging indigenous technology to meet immediate operational needs within joint or multi-agency environments.
He said Indigenous technology should not be foreign or complex but reflect local knowledge, skills and available resources.
“The training focused on improving locally developed equipment and harnessing homegrown expertise to optimise military capabilities,” he added.
According to him, the event brought together personnel from the four combat support arms, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, and Intelligence, to promote unity and operational synergy.
Gagariga further said that the participants engaged in technical sessions and procedural reviews to enhance collaboration and integrate indigenous innovations into military operations.
He added that the programme also served as an interface between serving and retired military personnel and other stakeholders in both civil and military sectors.
“Retired officers were urged to continue offering strategic guidance to ongoing military efforts,” he said.
The training showed the importance of collaboration between the military and civil society, calling on all sectors, including civilians, to help foster an enabling environment for indigenous innovation and inter-agency cooperation.