The Nigerian Army calls on Abia State and South-East youths to heed the national call to service by joining the military and aiding national development.
According to reports, he made this appeal on Thursday in Umuahia during the maiden edition of an awareness campaign organised by the Department of Civil-Military Affairs of the Nigerian Army.
Army Sensitisation Engages Youths, Rulers, Civil Groups
The programme brought together youths, traditional rulers, and civil society groups to engage participants effectively.
It aimed at sensitising them on Army career opportunities while addressing misconceptions about military service.
Delivering a lecture at the event, guest speaker Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi (retd.) addressed the audience directly.
He encouraged South-East youths to stop avoiding military careers and seize numerous professional opportunities in the Nigerian Army.
Army Offers Diverse Careers in Medicine, Law, Engineering Beyond Combat
According to him, the Army offers careers beyond combat roles, including opportunities in medicine, law, engineering and other professional fields.
He also dismissed claims that soldiers from certain parts of the country are unfairly profiled or deliberately deployed to dangerous battlefronts.
Chibuisi said such narratives had discouraged many young people from the region from joining the Army.
He assured the audience that officers and soldiers from the South-East would not be denied promotion or welfare benefits in the military.
Retired General Urges South-East Parents to Push Kids into Army Careers
The retired general also appealed to parents in the region to encourage their children to consider a career in the armed forces.
Maj. Gen. Chukwunedum Abraham (retd.) voiced concern at event over low South-East applicants in recent Army recruitment exercises.
Last recruitment stats: Imo State recorded only 671 applicants; Ebonyi State had just 428, he revealed.
Retired Officer Calls for Sustained Community Engagement to Boost South-East Recruitment
Retired officer stressed sustained community engagement in region to boost youth participation in military recruitment efforts.
In his remarks, Chief of Civil-Military Affairs Maj. Gen. Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi addressed the gathering.
He said the awareness programme sensitises youths and opinion leaders about opportunities available in the Army.
He explained that the initiative also sought to address misconceptions and fears that might discourage young people from joining the military.
Etsu-Ndagi expressed optimism that the campaign would help improve participation from the South-East in future recruitment exercises.
Alex Otti Urges Abia Youths To Enlist
Abia Gov Alex Otti Reiterates Call for Youths to Join Nigerian Army
Speaking at the programme, Abia State Governor Alex Otti reiterated his call on youths in the state to consider joining the Nigerian Army.
Abia should not continue ranking among states with the lowest enlistment figures in the military.
Otti expressed concern that recruitment forms made available to Abia State in recent years had attracted only a small number of applicants.
He, however, expressed optimism that the awareness campaign would help change the narrative.
The governor assured full support for initiatives that boost youth participation in the Nigerian Army.
His administration will encourage more state youths to seize opportunities within the military ranks.
