The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has charged newly promoted senior officers of the Nigerian Army to show exemplary leadership and intensify efforts in the fight against insecurity, especially in the North West and other troubled parts of the country.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu,
Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement said the Minister gave the charge at the investiture ceremony of 47 newly promoted Brigadier Generals to the rank of Major General at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1, Asokoro, Abuja.
According to the statement, the defence minister noted that their promotion was a testament to their courage, dedication to duty and hard work, adding that it is a reward for diligence, professional conduct and selfless sacrifices.
He highlighted the need for the newly promoted senior officers to lead by example, inspire their subordinates and collaborate with other security agencies to surmount the security challenges in the country.
The minister acknowledged the rigorous process of selecting the promoted senior officers, reflecting their exceptional leadership skills, strategic thinking and indepth understanding in the course of their careers.
He noted that their contributions to the Army are invaluable and expressed confidence in their continuous service to the nation.
Congratulating the senior officers on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Matawalle assured of the Federal Government’s adequate welfare interventions and continued support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
In his remarks at the investiture, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, felicitated with the newly promoted senior officers on their well-deserved elevation and noted that their competencies, diligence and loyalty earned them their promotion.
He appreciated the spouses and families of the elevated senior officers for their understanding and support, as well as coping with absence of parents, regularly separated by duty to fatherland.
The Army Chief highlighted the need for every personnel to augment his career path and reminded the newly elevated senior officers of the enormous responsibilities that come with their new rank.
He urged them to constantly seek knowledge on diplomatic, economic and political dynamics, to be logical and objective in their contributions to the Army, just as he charged the senior officer to be loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.