Retiring to Post-service Life

Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, which is saddled with the task of integrating military retirees into civil life, recently churned out 343 retirees after intensive training on various entrepreneurial skills to ease their transition

For 35 meritorious years or less, 343 soldiers went through series of military trainings to ensure they turn out to be professional soldiers in their various units and fields. Throughout those years, they recited the soldiers creed, and were solely dedicated to the actualisation of the Armed Forces core responsibilities whatever the cost or odds.

But six months to their retirement, it was time to reformat their thinking process back to the civilian life they were used to before their sojourn into military life. Thus began their journey to the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), a centre established for military retirees to transition into civil life.

To ensure such smooth and seamless transition back to civil life, NAFRC was borne. At the centre located at Oshodi, Lagos, the retirees undergo training and re-training to ease their transition. They are also equipped with relevant civilian skills that would ensure they are kept busy.

For the current graduates drawn from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigerian Army (NA) and the Nigerian Navy (NN), they were equipped with relevant trades and vocational skills.

The retirees, comprising 258 from the NA, 70 from the NN and 15 from the NAF, who were sent off at a passing-out ceremony held at the resettlement center in Oshodi, had undergone preparatory and skills acquisition training to equip them with needed tools for easy reintegration into civil life.

Addressing the retirees, the Chief of Defence General, General Lucky Irabor reminded them their passing out parade signified a setting dusk in their distinguished military career, as well as a testimony of their determination, commitment and discipline.

Irabor who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral George Eyo, said the pre-retirement course was designed to give trainees
the requisite rudiments for a successful reintegration into civil life after a meritorious service to the country.

He said: “It is our hope that on completion of this training, our gallant discharging servicemen and women seated here today will apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired and by so doing, comfortably enjoy the post service life.”

He urged the retirees to remain good ambassadors of the Armed Forces, maintain highest level of integrity and ensure they contributed towards nation building as they go about their businesses.

He added, “you will from now on take full charge as planners and executors of your personal daily activities, This may sound exciting and promising but beware; you need to properly manage your freedom in order to be successful.

“The society will expect a high moral standard and discipline from you. You will also have to prove in your relationships that you passed through a highly disciplined system.

“As our well-grounded ambassadors, I believe you are all capable of excelling in your future endeavors and positively influence your environment for the economic development of our dear country.

“It is equally necessary for me to inform our discharging colleagues that post-service life has its peculiar challenges.

” Some of these challenges you may encounter would include but not limited to management of resources especially retirement benefits, influences from friends and family members management of both mental and physical health as well as integrating with the civil society.

“Therefore, I urge you to be proactive in your conduct in order to avoid or overcome these challenges.

“You must appreciate that it is risky for you to embark on a new life style that is above your means, or engage in non-lucrative ventures neither should you abstain from physical exercises.”

The CDS further urged them to put to good use, the various entrepreneurial, business development and management skills they had learnt at NAFRC for economically productive and successful life after retirement.

He also commended NAFRC leadership for its relentless efforts at ensuring that discharging Armed Forces personnel were exposed to the latest trends in global entrepreneurship and management training. In this wise, your reviewed curriculum has enabled trainees to benefit from the modern trends of doing business.

“I am aware that the Commandant has initiated a case to convince appropriate authorities on the need to allocate starter packs in form of cash for trainees upon completion of their course here.

” I believe this move by the Commandant has reached an advanced stage, and hopefully subsequent courses may benefit from this effort,” said the CDS, he further stated.

Earlier, NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Adamu Idris said the centre has trained about 50,000 personnel since inception, adding that other Nigerians have also benefited from trainings at the centre.

He said: “The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre was established with the mandate of providing quality training on relevant post Service skills to retiring personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in order to prepare them to face the challenges of integrating into post-service civil life.

“We have successfully conducted various vocational training for youths in Lagos State and environs. The centre has also successfully trained members of paramilitary agencies as well as staff of Federal Government of Nigeria Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre is well-positioned to optimally deliver on its core mandate of vocational training not just for only retiring personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria but also for all Nigerians.

“Pursuant to this belief, the available human and capital resources have been harnessed to transform the centre into a world class institution and a centre of excellence, where international best practices in vocational training is the norm.

“The centre will continue to explore ways and means to enhance the process of teaching and learning as the room for improvement can never be exhausted. Already, we have kick-started the enhancement of some of the Centre’s physical and social infrastructural systems.

” The training we provide helps beneficiaries to be equipped with skills for self-sustenance, earn meaningful income while keeping them positively engaged.

“This enables them to contribute meaningfully to their various societies thus reducing crime, criminality as well as other vices from our society. All these are deliberate steps towards building a greater Nigeria. “

At the event were security chiefs and heads of government agencies in Lagos including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu: Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Jason Gbassa; and Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sunday Makinde.