The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has said that efficient career planning and management of officers in the Nigerian Army is crucial to achieving operational success and effectively addressing the nation’s security challenges.
Shaibu made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 Career Planning and Management Seminar organised by the Army Headquarters Department of the Military Secretary.
The seminar, themed “Efficient Career Planning and Management of Officers: The Key to Advancing the Transformation of the Nigerian Army Within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment,” focuses on strengthening human resource management within the Army.
Represented by the Chief of Personnel Management (Army), Maj.-Gen. Adewale Adekeye, the COAS said the seminar was timely and relevant, stressing that career planning and management remained central to productivity, efficiency and overall institutional success in the Army.
He noted that the evolving nature of warfare requires the Nigerian Army to remain proactive, innovative and resilient in confronting multidimensional security threats facing the country.
According to him, studies have shown that when officers are deployed based on their competencies, skills and abilities, their performance is optimised, thereby enhancing operational success.
“This brings to the fore the need for efficient career planning and management of personnel, particularly within the officers’ corps, in order to maximise their leadership potential and individual capacities,” he said.
Shaibu added that as global security dynamics continue to change, the Nigerian Army must anticipate emerging threats, adapt to new realities and innovate in order to effectively address the nation’s security challenges in line with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief.
He acknowledged the severity of the security challenges confronting the country but maintained that the Army had continued to record successes across various theatres of operation, attributing the achievements to the resilience and professionalism of its personnel.
The COAS also commended troops for their gallantry and professionalism in the discharge of their duties and urged the Army to continually adopt new approaches to career planning and management in order to produce the right personnel for contemporary security operations.
He said the seminar would expose participants to modern human resource management models and deepen their understanding of their roles as career managers within the Army.
Shaibu further encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and share ideas that could strengthen career planning and management policies within the service.
He also urged the Department of the Military Secretary to leverage technology to improve postings, appointments and reporting processes for officers.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Military Secretary (Army), Maj.-Gen. Ifeanyi Okoro, underscored the importance of effective career planning and management in enhancing professionalism and combat readiness in the Nigerian Army.
Okoro said the seminar was designed to improve career development through appropriate training, postings, promotions and appointments.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the COAS’ command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptive and combat-ready force.
He expressed confidence that the seminar would provide participants with fresh perspectives that would help shape rewarding career paths within the Army.
Okoro also commended the resource persons for sharing their expertise and acknowledged the support of the Army, Defence and Services Headquarters, as well as former military secretaries and other mentors who contributed to the development of the department.
He urged participants to approach the seminar with an open mind, stressing the importance of continuous professional development and collaborative engagement.
The seminar features a series of lectures and discussions on various aspects of career planning and management.
A keynote lecture titled “Military Human Resource Management: A Catalyst for the Transformative Drive of the Nigerian Army,” was delivered by retired Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Abdullahi.
Alternative Strong Headlines:
COAS: Strategic Career Planning Vital to Defeating Nigeria’s Security Threats
