The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has urged military retirees to engage in skills acquisition a move aimed at improving the living standards of retired military officers and personnel.
Oluyede made this call on Wednesday while speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day skills acquisition training in Yola.
According to him, the programme aims to equip retired service members with practical skills to establish and grow sustainable agricultural ventures across the value chain.
He explained that the initiative is in alignment with existing poverty alleviation programmes of the Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The training is a strategic initiative by Defence Headquarters, aimed at enhancing the well-being of our veterans and equipping them to withstand the challenges posed by today’s increasingly difficult economic climate,” he said.
At the event, Oluyede was represented by the Army Director, Veterans Affairs Division, Maj. Gen. Oluwafemi Williams.
According to the Chief of Defence Staff, the declining purchasing power of retired military personnel is negatively impacting their quality of life and that of their families.
“In response to this long-standing concern, I have directed the Veterans Affairs Division to implement a nationwide skills acquisition programme, tailored to each of the six geopolitical zones,” he added.
The training covers a diverse range of vocational skills, including poultry and fish farming, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock management, integrated and irrigation farming systems, and modern crop farming techniques.
Oluyede encouraged participants to network with facilitators, fellow trainees, and private institutions to boost their businesses.
“It is my sincere hope that the knowledge you gain will serve as a foundation for building viable and sustainable livelihoods for yourselves and your families,” he said.
In his welcome remarks, the Director of Veterans Affairs Division, who was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Brig. Gen. Caius Baushe, said the training would not only strengthen the capacity of retired service members but also help them tackle post-retirement challenges.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Amos Edgar, commended the CDS for the empowerment programme and urged participants to leverage the training to revamp their lives.
Speaking exclusively to The PUNCH, a retired Air Force officer, Master Warrant Officer Yirka Mark, called on federal and state governments to recruit some of the physically fit retirees as forest guards. He noted that this would strengthen security efforts against kidnappers, bandits, and other criminals hiding in forests.
The training comes two months after retired military personnel blocked roads in Abuja to protest the non-payment of their retirement benefits.
