The Nigerian Army has officially reinforced its commitment to personnel welfare beyond active military service with the flag-off of the Senior Executive Career Transition Programme (SECTP), Cohort 2. Organised by the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC), the initiative commenced on Monday at the Zuma Rock Resort in Suleja, Niger State, aiming to prepare senior officers for productive post-service careers while harnessing their expertise for 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 as a fresh chapter rather than an endpoint.
“Retirement is not the end of your professional journey, but the beginning of a new chapter of service and opportunity,” Yahaya stated, encouraging officers to face the future with confidence and strategic planning. “The leadership, discipline, integrity, and strategic expertise cultivated during military service remain invaluable assets that Nigeria will continue to require long after retirement.”
Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, the Chief of Logistics (Army), Major General AA Adeyinka, emphasised that the framework represents a major milestone in executive career transition within the military.
“The Nigerian Army’s obligation to its personnel extends beyond the years of active service,” Shaibu noted in his remarks. “Officers should retire not only with their statutory benefits, but also with the knowledge, resilience, and confidence required to thrive in civilian life.”
He added that key insights from the inaugural cohort highlighted the critical role of mentorship, financial literacy, and peer learning in navigating post-service realities, affirming that “well-prepared retirees remain valuable national assets capable of making enduring contributions to governance, security, and socio-economic development.”
In his welcome address, the Director General of the NAHFC, Major General Tariweriye Gagariga, highlighted the significant lifestyle shift that follows decades of military duty.
“Army officers dedicate the most productive years of their lives to defending the nation through rigorous training and demanding operational commitments,” Gagariga remarked, warning that transition can affect identity and income without deliberate planning. He explained that the SECTP directly aligns with the COAS’ Command Philosophy, “which places personnel welfare, morale, and development at the heart of every policy and decision.”
The current cohort brings together 31 participants, comprising 26 serving senior officers and five recently retired officers. Through this structured human-capital strategy, the Nigerian Army aims to preserve institutional knowledge while enabling former personnel to meaningfully contribute to Nigeria’s security architecture and broader growth long after leaving active duty.
