The Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, a think tank for the future growth of the army, has been officially launched by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
According to Irabor, the center was created to address the unique difficulties facing the Nigerian army and to build a pool of capable and devoted commanders.
He added that the center would act as the army’s research facility for developing policy frameworks.
Also, the heritage and future center will benefit the army by safeguarding its past and drawing on all of its operations’ lessons through critical analysis.
In order to set the bar higher for the army and the armed forces as a whole, the CDS asked officers who would be deployed to work toward achieving predetermined goals.
He recognized the sacrifices of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian army’s to the defense of Nigeria’s territorial integrity in cooperation with sister services.
Irabor noted; “It is pertinent for me to mention the central role research plays in providing constructive solutions to myriads of problems facing the armed forces of Nigeria.
“The dynamics of the operating environment for the armed forces of Nigeria demands that we x-ray the lenses of engagement in various thematic areas.
“It is my fervent hope that this center will provide a veritable opportunity for serving and retired officers to contribute to the Nigerian army’s future development and modernisation agenda, through focused research
“I am happy to note that the center has a directorate dedicated to improving jointness and operations, as well as other activities with sister services.
“On the whole, I expect the center to add impetus to the system through innovative ideas to problem solving approach of the Nigerian army in particular, and the armed forces of Nigeria in general,” he added.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, also noted that the Nigerian army has undergone tremendous change since the advent of democracy.
According to him, professionalism was a key factor in attaining operational achievements and enhancing the Nigerian army’s reputation.
Yahaya stated that the Nigerian army has been building on the different transformations that were being seen and vowed to put in place safeguards to prevent the gains from being undone.
The Army, according to Yahaya, has been assembling highly qualified, capable, senior experienced officers, and other individuals with the necessary capabilities to meet the unique and topical issues facing the Nigerian army.
The COAS boss said; “This is to be achieved through productive research, analysis studies on suggestion of novel solutions to make Nigerian army more effective, resilient and an adaptive force.
“On this wise, I approved the establishment of the center to among other key roles, develop plan for the entrenchment and preservation of Nigerian army heritage.
“It is to provide strategic inputs for future plans and controls, modernisation of the Nigerian army as well as act as loyal opposition to Nigerian army by constantly calling out inconsistencies and flaws within the system,” he said.
The COAS stated that the center would also aim to institutionalize and sustain cutting-edge solutions to the logistical, administrative, tactical, and training difficulties facing the Nigerian army.
The deployment of frameworks that would ensure the deployment of adaptive, robust, and effective forces to meet and defeat present and emerging threats will be made easier by accurate future forecasting based on strong analysis and research, the speaker continued.
He added that the facility will serve as a think tank for the Nigerian army’s future.
Yahaya commended the officers’ and soldiers’ dedication to continuous operations meant to purge the country of all threats.
