Maj.-Gen. Obinna Ajunwa, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), stated on Monday that effective communication was essential among security agencies as well as between soldiers and officers.
This was said by Ajunwa at the 522nd Leadership Awareness Development Course for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) of the 81 Division of the Area of Responsibility of the Nigerian Army (NA).
The event is held in the Officers’ Mess of the 81 Division on Victoria Island in Lagos and began on October 24 and runs through October 28.
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja organized the training, which included participants from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, and Nigerian Customs, among other security agencies.
The GOC stated that the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, who serve as the intermediary between the soldiers and the officers, are required to understand both groups of people.
“By so doing, the bridge becomes better and the officers and soldiers will sweat less in trying to perform their duties optimally and conveying instructions better for effective administration.
“The roles of senior NCOs are very important in making sure that our missions are well understood and well delivered.
“The modus of the course is carefully designed to train and equip Senior NCOs with relevant leadership essentials in the attainment of the goals and the objectives of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
According to Ajunwa, the course will make Senior NCOs more aware of their obligations to successfully lead and bridge the gap between officers and troops, particularly when working in a combined environment.
He commended the Nigerian Army Resource Centre for the effort, saying it will help the NA develop the skills and competencies of senior NCOs and fill some of the leadership deficiencies in the armed forces.
“I enjoin all the participants to freely express opinions and ideas that will aid in achieving the objectives of this course.
“Collaboration of this nature is very important for our joint operations which will be achieved by upholding the command’s pillars of professionalism, readiness, administration and cooperation in steering the affairs of all our agencies.
“I urge you all to continue to play your respective roles in accomplishing your respective agencies’ visions and mission statements,” he said.
Ajunwa thanked the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, for his assistance and a keen interest in 81 Division and the entire Nigerian Army.
Also, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab who is the Director-General of, the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, said that the course would be carried out in all the Nigerian Army Divisions across the country.
“We have been to 2 Division Ibadan, 6 Division Port Harcourt, 1 Division Kaduna and now we are in 81 Division.
“The essence of the course is to develop the leadership abilities of the senior NCOs who are the bridge between the officer cadre and the soldiers.
“Communication is essential because, without proper communication, you will get the wrong results thus, the essence of the training is to get correct results always,” he said.
According to Wahab, counterinsurgency is supposed to be led by junior commanders.
“However, it is the very senior officers that are leading counterinsurgency which is not supposed to be so.
“So, the best thing is to improve the leadership of those expected to be in the forefront.
“The junior commanders are the guys that go on patrol, and prepare ambushes among other things; so we need to raise the level of leadership in them,” he said.
