NAFRC

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has urged retiring military personnel to view retirement as the beginning of a new phase filled with opportunities, growth, and fulfilment rather than the end of their productive years.

The Chief of the Air Staff, represented by Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh, Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, gave the charge on Thursday, 11 June 2026, during the Passing-Out Ceremony of participants of Pre-Discharge Course 1/2026 at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos.

In his address, the CAS congratulated the graduating personnel on the successful completion of their resettlement training and commended them for their dedicated service to the nation. He described the occasion as a celebration of courage, sacrifice, and commitment, noting their contributions to military operations, peacekeeping missions, and humanitarian interventions within and outside Nigeria.

He encouraged the retirees to apply the discipline, resilience, and vocational skills acquired during service and training to build successful post-service careers. He also advised them to maintain financial prudence, avoid fraudulent investment schemes, and remain active contributors to national development as worthy ambassadors of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Earlier, the Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Ignatius Nnaemeka Ilo, congratulated the participants and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to equipping retiring personnel with practical skills for self-reliance and economic empowerment.

AVM Ilo highlighted key achievements since assuming office, these among others include infrastructure upgrades, improved personnel welfare, enhanced community engagement, and a review of the Centre’s curriculum to align with emerging economic realities. He noted that the revised curriculum places greater emphasis on digital entrepreneurship, ICT, agribusiness, renewable energy, and modern business management.

The Commandant also disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to establish a skills acquisition and empowerment programme for widows and children of fallen military personnel.

Presenting an overview of the course, the Director of Training, Brigadier General IE Akpaumontia, disclosed that 812 participants comprising 515 Army, 121 Navy and 176 Air Force successfully completed the six-month Pre-Discharge Course and qualified for the award of NAFRC certificates.

He explained that the course commenced on 9 January 2026 with 812 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force. According to him, 86 participants were declared medically unfit and returned to their units for treatment, while three medically unfit participants passed away during the training period.

Brigadier General Akpaumontia stated that the programme was designed to prepare retiring personnel mentally, psychologically, and economically for civilian life through vocational training, entrepreneurship education, counselling, and post-service consultancy support. He added that 71 female personnel successfully completed the course alongside their male counterparts.

In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Commandant of NAFRC, Major General AO Oyelade, expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff, Defence and Service Chiefs, government agencies, corporate organisations, and development partners for their support towards the successful conduct of the course.

Highlights of the ceremony included the recognition of outstanding participants in various vocational disciplines, and an exhibition of products and innovations developed during the training programme. The representative of CAS and other dignitaries also toured the exhibition centre and commissioned a newly constructed convenience facility within the Centre as well as carrying out ground breaking for the NAFRC Canteen.

The ceremony culminated in the symbolic passing out of the participants, marking their transition from military service to civilian life. The event was attended by former NAFRC Commandants and Deputy Commandant, senior military officers, government officials, traditional rulers, family members, and other well-wishers.