The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has urged retired military personnel to embrace skills acquisition as a pathway to improved living standards, financial stability, and post-service resilience. He appealed on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of a three-day skills acquisition programme in Yola.
Oluyede explained that the initiative is designed to equip ex-service members with practical, income-generating skills, particularly within the agricultural value chain. The programme, he said, aligns with the broader poverty alleviation and economic empowerment goals of President 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,” the CDS stated.
Represented by the Army Director of the Veterans Affairs Division, Maj. Gen. Oluwafemi Williams, Oluyede expressed concern about the declining purchasing power of retired officers and soldiers, a trend that continues to affect their welfare 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 said.
The training covers a wide range of agricultural and vocational disciplines, including poultry and fish farming, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock management, integrated farming systems, irrigation farming, and modern crop production techniques.
Participants were encouraged to build networks with trainers, fellow retirees, and private agricultural institutions to help turn their newly acquired skills into viable business ventures. “It is my sincere hope that the knowledge you gain will serve as a foundation for building sustainable livelihoods for yourselves and your families,” Oluyede added.
Brig. Gen. Caius Baushe, representing the Director of the Veterans Affairs Division, said the programme would play a crucial role in strengthening the capacity of retired personnel and helping them navigate post-retirement challenges.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Amos Edgar, commended the Defence Headquarters for prioritising veterans’ welfare. He encouraged participants to apply the training effectively to transform their lives.
Speaking, retired Air Force Master Warrant Officer Yirka Mark urged federal and state governments to recruit fit retirees as forest guards to bolster efforts against banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in remote areas.
The programme comes just two months after retired military personnel staged demonstrations in Abuja over the delayed payment of their pension arrears and other entitlements.
