The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos, has commenced Pre-Discharge Course 2/2026, reaffirming its commitment to preparing retiring military personnel for productive and self-reliant lives after active service.
The inauguration ceremony brought together senior military officers, participants, government officials and other stakeholders to launch another round of intensive human capacity development for personnel approaching retirement.
Declaring the course open, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, described the programme as a strategic investment in the future of the Armed Forces and national development.
He said retirement should never be regarded as the end of a career but rather the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities for enterprise, innovation and community service.
According to him, the military values of discipline, resilience, integrity, professionalism and patriotism remain valuable assets that retiring personnel can deploy successfully in civilian life.
Babalola commended the leadership of NAFRC for consistently providing vocational, entrepreneurial and management training that empowers military personnel to become productive citizens after service.
He noted that the Centre has evolved into one of Africa’s leading military resettlement institutions through its sustained contributions to personnel welfare and national socio economic growth.
The GOC urged participants to embrace every aspect of the six month programme with commitment, stressing that the knowledge and practical skills acquired would shape their future after retirement.
He explained that the curriculum extends beyond vocational studies to include entrepreneurship, business management, financial literacy, information technology and other life skills designed to promote self reliance.
Babalola encouraged participants to leverage the opportunity to become employers of labour, business owners, consultants and respected leaders within their communities.
He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of serving and retired military personnel through sustained support for the Resettlement Centre.
The GOC expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs and other stakeholders for their unwavering support towards strengthening the Centre.
He further advised participants to maintain discipline, healthy living and professionalism throughout the course while preserving the honour earned during decades of military service.
Earlier, the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, described the participants as Nigeria’s next generation of entrepreneurs and future employers of labour.
He disclosed that the Centre had reviewed its curriculum in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education and the National Directorate of Employment to align training with nationally recognised certification standards.
According to him, the curriculum enhancement will ensure that certificates earned at the Centre enjoy wider national recognition and improve graduates’ competitiveness in the labour market.
Ilo announced plans to convene a stakeholders’ summit aimed at consolidating reforms and strengthening collaborations that will further improve the Centre’s training programmes.
He urged participants to approach the programme with seriousness while gradually adapting to civilian life, reminding them that they remained respected senior officers deserving of dignity and mutual respect.
The Commandant also cautioned participants against abusing social media or engaging in actions capable of damaging reputations built over decades of dedicated military service.
He encouraged them to channel grievances through established administrative procedures, assuring participants that the Centre’s leadership remained accessible to address legitimate concerns.
In his welcome address, the Director of Training, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, said the Centre received nominations for 840 participants comprising 523 personnel from the Nigerian Army, 89 from the Nigerian Navy and 228 from the Nigerian Air Force.
He disclosed that 689 personnel had so far completed documentation, accommodation and medical screening, while 136 were returned to their units for further medical care after being declared medically unfit for the current course.
Akpaumontia explained that participants would receive practical training in agriculture, information technology, automobile mechanics, welding, tailoring, bakery, leather works, refrigeration, photography, ceramics, security management, entrepreneurship and several other vocational disciplines.
He emphasised that attendance, discipline, professionalism and strict compliance with Centre regulations would remain compulsory throughout the residential programme, expressing confidence that participants would graduate equipped with the competence, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset required to excel in civilian life.
The ceremony concluded with the formal inauguration of Pre Discharge Course 2/2026 as participants commenced another important phase in their transition from distinguished military careers to sustainable civilian livelihoods.