The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged Divisional Training Officers (DTOs) of the Nigerian Army to be sound, realistic and progressive in the conduct of training, stressing that effective training remains the bedrock of operational success.
Lieutenant General Shaibu gave the charge on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the opening ceremony of the week-long Divisional Training Officers Training Week, organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Training at the 3 Division Auditorium, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Jos.
The training workshop, themed “Enhancing Operational Readiness: Adaptive Training Strategies for Evolving Threats,” brought together Divisional Training Officers and other participants to review existing training methods, share experiences and develop strategies to improve training standards across divisional training schools. The programme is also aimed at preparing officers for the year’s training cycle, drawing lessons from past training activities.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the COAS emphasised that realistic and well-structured training has a direct impact on operational outcomes, noting that training must encourage inquisitive and adaptive mindsets among officers and soldiers.
“Training activities must foster the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn the rudiments of implementing tactical and operational training policies and procedures,” he said.
Lieutenant General Shaibu highlighted the pivotal role of Divisional Training Officers in shaping the competence, mindset and resilience of personnel, stressing that leadership remains central to military effectiveness.
“As Divisional Training Officers, you play a critical role in shaping the competence, mindset and resilience of our officers and soldiers,” he said. “Leadership is a critical element, as an army is only as good as its leaders, and leaders are only as good as their training.”
According to him, the responsibility placed on training officers is profound, as the quality of leadership displayed on the battlefield is directly linked to the quality of training designed, supervised and enforced within the Nigerian Army.
The week-long training is expected to strengthen the capacity of Divisional Training Officers to deliver adaptive and mission-oriented training capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
