The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to fostering combat-ready warriors to enhance operational effectiveness. He made these remarks while officially opening a seminar themed **“From Trauma To Triumph: Building Combat Ready Warriors In The Nigerian Army”** held at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State on Wednesday.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu stressed that warrior ethos forms the fundamental pillars of operational success. He emphasized that the Nigerian Army will remain at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in defense of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Representing the COAS was Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC), who highlighted the importance of the seminar in strengthening both the fighting spirit and overall resilience of army personnel.
Organized by the Army Headquarters’ Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, the seminar sought to address critical issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) management and the dangers of drug and substance abuse among troops—key factors that pose challenges to combat readiness and troop welfare.
Lt.-Gen. Shaibu lauded these initiatives, underscoring their role in maintaining the Nigerian Army’s strategic advantage amid complex security challenges. He highlighted mental resilience, courage, and unwavering commitment as central to successful mission execution.
He further stated that by integrating experiential lessons from the field with intellectual reflection and doctrinal innovation, the Army can continuously refine its strategies to safeguard Nigeria’s enduring stability. Shaibu also recognized the increasing complexity of contemporary threats, urging for adaptive and holistic operational approaches.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Olusegun Abai, Chief of Transformation and Innovation Army, explained that the seminar primarily aimed to boost leadership capacity among junior and middle cadre officers while instilling warrior ethos throughout the ranks. Represented by Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Danja, Director of Lessons Learned, Department of Transformation and Innovation Army, Abai emphasized awareness creation and measures to tackle PTSD and eradicate drug abuse among troops.
Maj.-Gen. Danja expressed appreciation to the Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry for hosting the seminar. The event featured lectures on subjects such as intensifying warrior ethos and mental toughness, the effects of drug and substance abuse on operational effectiveness, overcoming PTSD, as well as interactive sessions.
The seminar aligns with the Nigerian Army’s broader mission to enhance combat readiness, build resilient soldiers, and ensure Nigeria’s security institutions are equipped to handle emerging security threats effectively.
