In a renewed drive to empower officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces with vital post-service life skills, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) on Monday inaugurated the 14th edition of the Middle and Senior-Level Officers’ Entrepreneurship and Management Course. The programme, held in collaboration with EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation, marks the second of four sessions scheduled for the year 2025.
Addressing participants at the official opening ceremony, Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal BR Mamman, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the course. He emphasized that while the training is not a pre-retirement programme, it is critical in preparing officers for the realities of post-service life.
“This Course will equip you with the skills, mindset, and resilience needed to navigate the dynamic world of business and leadership,” AVM Mamman stated. “It aligns with our mandate to provide quality training that adequately prepares personnel for reintegration into civilian life.”
AVM Mamman disclosed that the Centre has so far trained over 47,000 personnel from the Senior Non-Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers cadre, many of whom now successfully run small and medium-scale businesses across Nigeria. He added that over 200 senior officers have benefited from this course since its inception, a number expected to grow significantly in 2025 with its quarterly rollout.
He further noted that the training covers core areas such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, business law, human resource management, and marketing. In his words, “Success in entrepreneurship is not just about a great idea, but about strategic planning, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to hard work.”
In her keynote address, Mrs. Onari Duke, Country Director of EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation, lauded the Defence Headquarters and NAFRC leadership for their unwavering commitment to officer development. She said the collaboration reflects a national need to shift focus from traditional employment to entrepreneurship in addressing economic challenges.
“NAFRC’s commitment to capacity building is critical in today’s entrepreneurial landscape,” she said. “This course will empower senior and mid-level officers with the skills required to succeed as entrepreneurs and managers in their post-service journeys.”
Mrs. Duke highlighted the comprehensive curriculum for the training, which includes practical sessions, workshops, and visits to successful enterprises like Spectra Industries, Calaway Farms, Commint Buka, and Songhai Farm in Port Novo. She emphasized that the training represents a vital mindset shift for officers who have long devoted their lives to service, offering them a rare opportunity to invest in personal growth and future impact.
Courses for senior officers include *21st Century Leadership Challenge*, *Strategic Thinking for Profitability*, *Financial Modelling and Budget Forecasting*, *Project Management*, *Conflict Resolution*, and *Corporate Governance*. Meanwhile, mid-level officers are receiving instruction in *Emotional Mastery*, *Inventory Management*, *Health and Wellness*, *Business Expansion*, and *Product Specification*.
The Commandant officially inaugurated the course and charged participants to fully embrace the opportunity to plan, strategize, and begin building their entrepreneurial future while still in service.
The event concluded with appreciation to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for his support and foresight, and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his enduring leadership and commitment to the welfare of military personnel.
The initiative reinforces NAFRC’s vision of preparing service personnel for a seamless transition into impactful civilian life through entrepreneurship, innovation, and enterprise development.