The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has commended the Combat Support Arms of the Nigerian Army for their dedication to innovation and enhanced operational performance.
Speaking through Maj.-Gen. Usman Yusuf, Commander, Infantry Corps, at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Combat Support Arms Training Week held in Kano, Oluyede praised participants and resource persons for their contributions to the week-long programme.
He noted that the training had significantly exposed officers to evolving technologies essential 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 also highlighted the value of the programme’s structure, stating that “the well-curated lectures, discussions, and interactive sessions offered immense value to all the participants.”
He acknowledged the vital contributions of both serving and retired officers, whose experience added depth to the training. Despite ongoing security challenges, he applauded the organisers for successfully delivering the event.
Emphasising the strategic importance of the Combat Support Arms, he said, “The relevance of combat support arms to both kinetic and non-kinetic operations cannot be overstated.”
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He urged commanders to integrate the key lessons and recommendations from the training into their operational strategies to foster greater 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 added.
Underscoring the importance of maintenance, Oluyede remarked that “while training shapes the soldier, equipment ensures effectiveness.” He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting the Combat Support Arms and improving personnel welfare, in line with his command philosophy.
Describing the event as a crucial platform, he said, “You are the unseen strength, the strategic enabler, the flexible yet invaluable backbone of the Nigerian Army.”
Also speaking at the event, retired Maj.-Gen. Taritimiye Gagariga said the training underscored the need to harness indigenous technology to address immediate operational demands in joint and multi-agency settings.
“Indigenous technology need not be foreign or complex but should reflect local knowledge, skills, and available resources,” he explained.
Gagariga added that the sessions focused on improving locally developed equipment and leveraging homegrown expertise to optimise military capabilities.
According to him, the event brought together personnel from the four combat support arms Artillery, Engineers, Signals, and Intelligence to strengthen unity and foster operational synergy.
Participants engaged in technical sessions and procedural reviews aimed at improving collaboration and integrating indigenous innovations into operations. The programme also provided an interface between serving personnel, retired officers, and key stakeholders in both civil and military sectors.
“Retired officers were urged to continue offering strategic guidance to ongoing military efforts,” he said.
Gagariga concluded by highlighting the importance of civil-military cooperation, stating that the event called on all sectors, including civilians, to help create an enabling environment for indigenous innovation and inter-agency collaboration.
