The Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria are committed to improving the living condition of military veterans.
Musa stated this on Wednesday in Kaduna at a three-day Skills Acquisition Training for Veterans (SAT-V) in the North-West Geo-political zone.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CDS was represented by the Chief of Staff, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. David Nwakonobi .
NAN also reports that the training has its theme “Empowering Veterans Through Skills Acquisition for Capacity Building and Sustainability” .
He said the Defence Headquarters’ effort was aimed at improving the living standard of the veterans as well as empowering them against the effects of the dwindling economic conditions.
Musa said,”This has become necessary because our dear veterans who served this country meritoriously cannot be left out in our drive to make life better for service personnel.
“It is imperative to state that one of the major challenges faced by veterans is reduction in earnings and spending capacity which negatively affects their quality of life and their families.
“The adverse economic conditions and lack of access to alternative sources of income invariably results in a vicious cycle of want.
” It is against this backdrop and the need to empower our veterans that I directed the Veteran Affairs Division to conduct Skills Acquisition Training for our veterans nationwide on a geo-political zone basis. “
According to him, this has become necessary because the veterans who had served the country meritoriously cannot be left out in the drive to make life better for service personnel.
Musa said , ” This skills acquisition training will be conducted in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
“I am informed that the training would include imparting skills in such vocations as poultry, fish farming, animal husbandry, livestock farming, integrated farming, irrigation and modern crop farming techniques, amongst others.
” The training would also include financial literacy, record keeping, as well as marketing and identification of business opportunities.
” As a farmer I can better imagine the takeaways from this training programme and the benefits accruing to each participant’s.
“I am optimistic that at the end of the training you will be well informed and prepared to key into the poverty alleviation programmes of the present administration under my stewardship.”
He said that this was in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Tinubu, considering the pedigree of facilitators anchoring the programme.
Musa urged the participants to make judicious use of the training, saying, ”this is a rare opportunity to network among yourselves and other sundry organisations and individuals.”
In a goodwill message, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State , lauded the Defence Headquarters for the great opportunity given to the veterans.
The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Abdulkadir Mayere , Sani said the veterans had sacrificed a lot to the country .
“They deserve to live a decent and productive life after retirement .
“This training will enhance their ability to live better and earn a livelihood to take care of themselves and family,” he said.
Also the Director, Veterans’ Affairs Division, Maj.-Gen. DI Salihu, said the training was aimed at ensuring a comfortable and purposeful life for the veterans through education.
Salihu was represented by a Deputy Director, Brig.-Gen. Cains Baushe.
Salihu said inadequate or improper planning for hitch-free transition into retirement life has been the main reason why some veterans were finding it incrementally hard to cope with dwindling economic realities.
He appreciated the CDS for approving and providing the necessary logistics support to the division towards the successful conduct of the training.