The Nigerian Army has reinforced its commitment to the welfare of its personnel beyond active service with the commencement of the Senior Executive Career Transition Programme (SECTP), Cohort 2, organised by the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC).
A statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele Acting Director Army Public Relations said the programme, which began on Monday, 17 August 2026, at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State, is designed to prepare senior officers for a seamless transition into productive post-service careers while enabling them to continue contributing their wealth of experience to national development and security.
Declaring the programme open, the Special Guest of Honour and former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), urged participants to view retirement not as the end of their professional journey but as the beginning of a new chapter of service and opportunity. He encouraged the senior officers to embrace the future with confidence, strategic planning and optimism, stressing that the leadership, discipline, integrity and strategic expertise cultivated during military service remain invaluable assets that Nigeria will continue to require long after retirement.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, explained that the programme was conceived barely five months ago following extensive consultations on the need to institutionalised a structured transition framework for senior officers. He described the initiative as a landmark welfare intervention that has rapidly evolved into a strategic institutional programme aligned with global best practices in executive career transition and personnel development.
Represented by the Chief of Logistics (Army), Major General AA Adeyinka, the COAS affirmed that the Nigerian Army’s obligation to its personnel extends beyond the years of active service. According to him, officers should retire not only with their statutory benefits but also with the knowledge, resilience and confidence required to thrive in civilian life. He noted that lessons drawn from the inaugural cohort underscored the importance of mentorship, financial planning, professional guidance and peer learning in addressing the social, economic and psychological realities associated with retirement. He added that well-prepared retirees remain valuable national assets capable of making enduring contributions to governance, security and socio-economic development.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General Tariweriye Gagariga, observed that Army officers dedicate the most productive years of their lives to defending the nation through rigorous training and demanding operational commitments. He noted that retirement often brings profound changes in identity, income and social engagement if not deliberately planned for. He stated that the SECTP was therefore established to provide a sustainable and structured pathway for successful career transition in line with the COAS’ Command Philosophy, which places personnel welfare, morale and development at the heart of every policy and decision.
The second cohort comprises 31 participants, including 26 serving senior officers and five recently retired officers, reflecting the Nigerian Army’s determination to build an enduring human-capital management system that preserves institutional knowledge while empowering retiring personnel to remain productive and relevant. Through the initiative, the Nigerian Army is ensuring that the leadership experience, professional competence and strategic insight acquired over decades of distinguished service continue to support Nigeria’s security architecture and national development long after active military service.
