The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), a pivotal institution for integrating military retirees into civilian life, recently celebrated the graduation of 725 trainees. The Passing Out Ceremony of Course 01/2024 Trainees marked a nostalgic yet hopeful transition for the retirees, who spent six months acquiring various vocational skills essential for their post-service entrepreneurial journey.
For these 725 graduates, their journey began about 35 years ago when they joined the military and underwent rigorous training to become professional soldiers. Throughout their service, they dedicated themselves to fulfilling the Armed Forces’ core responsibilities. However, as their military careers came to an end, it was time to reformat their thinking and transition back to civilian life.
To facilitate this transition, NAFRC, located in Oshodi, Lagos, provides six months of intensive training and re-training. This program equips retirees with relevant civilian skills, ensuring they are prepared for productive post-service lives. The recent graduates were drawn from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army (NA), and the Nigerian Navy (NN), with 26, 500, and 165 retirees respectively. They received training in various fields, including management, fashion, fine arts, printing, soap and cosmetics making, domestic products, agricultural training, woodwork, building and civil works, electrical and electronics, auto mechanics, fabrication and welding, music, food and beverages, and information technology.
At the Passing Out Ceremony held at Danjuma Hall, the mood was one of optimism and anticipation. The Special Guest of Honour, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, expressed his gratitude to the retirees for their service and sacrifice. He highlighted NAFRC’s role in preparing retiring personnel for civilian life through diverse vocational skills, which are essential for self-reliance.
“The skills you have acquired in the Centre are germane to entrepreneurship, and I urge you to put the skills into proper use. As entrepreneurs, you will require attributes such as determination, diligence, optimism, as well as honesty, which you have imbibed during your career and the training in this centre,” Ogalla said.
He further emphasized the importance of ethical conduct and respect for the rule of law as the retirees reintegrate into civilian life. “You will be judged by these virtues as retired military personnel and as ambassadors of the Armed Forces and this prestigious centre,” he added.
Ogalla acknowledged the federal government’s efforts to prioritize the welfare of military personnel. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 20 percent increase in pension rates for retirees, effective January this year, along with other welfare packages initiated by various services.
NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Amesinlola, also spoke at the event, describing it as a moment of celebration and fulfillment for the retirees and their families. He praised the graduates for their discipline and commitment throughout their vocational training. Amesinlola highlighted NAFRC’s successful track record, noting that over 51,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, paramilitary agencies, and allied armed forces have been trained at the Centre. Additionally, more than 3,600 youths and widows have benefited from various vocational training programs as part of NAFRC’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
“These training programs equip beneficiaries with skills to start and manage businesses and vocations towards self-sustenance, contributing to the Federal Government’s commitment to increase Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises across the country,” Amesinlola said.
The ceremony underscored the nation’s gratitude for the retirees’ service and the importance of their smooth reintegration into civil life. With their new skills and the support of NAFRC, these former military personnel are well-prepared to embark on their next chapter as productive and self-reliant citizens.
