By Olayemi Esan
Chief Of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has urged military retirees to leverage on all the knowledge, skills and expertise acquired during their years of service as they join the civil life.
Amao gave the charge during the passing out of course 02/2021 held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, Lagos.
He told the military personnel that the economy and national security climate is dynamic and as such, the need to prepare for life after service.
He noted that the country is being confronted with various threats, and the sustenance of quality training for retiring personnel in vocational entrepreneurship and managerial skills remains viable tools for a productive post service life.
"I therefore encourage you all to henceforth harness the skills and expertise of things during your training to lead productive lives that will not endanger societal progress and national socio-economic development."he said.
The Commandant, Air Vice Marshall Muhammed Idris urged the retirees to carry on with the same spirit they acquired during training as they transit to civil life.
AVM Idris pointed out that the course will equip them to cope with the complexity of civil society.
"As you go back into the civil society, you will be required to combine a range of inter-personal skills with the specialist knowledge you have acquired to excel in any venture you choose to invest your time and resources.
"The Center has laid a solid foundation for you to make timely, profitable and inform decisions in this regard. It is now up to you to build this knowledge through further self development method.
"Today, you will join the league of over 50,000 alumni of this prestigious centre who like you, have been privileged to tap on the wealth of intellectual resources and array of capabilities development opportunity available at the Nigeria Armed Forces settlement centre," he said.
Some of the retirees thanked God for keeping them alive despite all the challenges even as some of their mates died during service.
The centre have so far trained over 50,000 military retirees on various skills.
Senior officers of the military, members of National Assembly, traditional rulers, some family members attended the ceremony.
Three hundred and fifty personnel (350) retired, two hundred and Sixty-one (261) from the Nigerian Army, Forty-six (46) from the Nigerian Air Force, Forty Three (43) from the Nigerian Navy.
