Veteran skills acquisition meant to improve livelihoods, shield against socioeconomic instability – CDS Gen. Musa
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says veteran skills acquisition meant to significantly improve livelihoods of veterans, their families and shield them from economic instability in retirement.
Musa said this in an address at the opening of a Three-Day Skills Acquisition Training for Veterans in the South-East Geo-Political Zone being held at 82 Division Headquarters, Enugu on Wednesday.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, the CDS said that the training was a strategic initiative by the Defence Headquarters aimed at enhancing the well-being of military veterans.
According to him, the initiative is meant to equip them (retirees of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force) to withstand the challenges posed by today’s increasingly difficult economic climate.
“It is important to highlight that a key challenge confronting our veterans is the significant decline in the purchasing power of their earnings. This, in turn, negatively impacts their quality of life and that of their families.
“The ongoing economic downturn, coupled with limited access to alternative income sources, creates a persistent cycle of need.
“In response to this long-standing concern and in our commitment to improving the welfare of our veterans, I have directed the Veterans Affairs Division to implement nationwide Skills Acquisition Training Programme, tailored to each of the six geo-political zones.
“I am pleased to see that our veterans are being actively included in our broader efforts to uplift the lives of all service personnel.
“Indeed, veterans remain vital stakeholders in our mission to improve living standards across the board,” he said.
Musa noted that diverse range of vocational skills, which included: poultry farming, fishery, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock management, integrated and irrigation farming systems, and modern crop farming techniques would be taught.
He said that the participants would be exposed to training on financial literacy, proper record keeping, agro-produce processing and packaging, marketing strategies, and business opportunity identification among others.
“As someone with personal experience in farming, I can readily appreciate the immense value this initiative and its training holds and opportunities it presents to each participant.
“The core objective of this initiative is to equip you with the practical skills needed to establish and grow sustainable agricultural ventures within the broader value chain,” he said.
Earlier, the Director, Veteran Affairs Division of Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Danladi Salihu, thanked the CDS for his continued support and providing logistics backing up for the training.
“Without his leadership and commitment, our gathering here today would not have come to fruition; while I urge you to approach the training with open minds,” Salihu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Brig.-Gen. Caius Baushe, said.
He said that the skill training for veterans aligns with the leadership concept of the CDS meant to ensure holistic welfare and well-being of all military personnel both serving and retired in the country.
