NAFRC strengthens military transition with entrepreneurial training

Transitioning From Service to Entrepreneurship

The Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Oshodi, Lagos, has officially commenced its Pre-Discharge Course 2/2026, marking a significant step in preparing retiring military personnel for life after active duty. The programme focuses on equipping service members with the necessary skills to remain productive and self-reliant as they transition into civilian roles.

Major General Adebayo Babalola, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, declared the course open, highlighting it as a strategic investment in both the future of the Armed Forces and national development. He emphasised that retirement should be viewed as a new beginning characterized by enterprise and community service rather than the end of a career.

The military values of discipline, resilience, integrity, professionalism and patriotism remain valuable assets that retiring personnel can deploy successfully in civilian life.

— Major General Adebayo Babalola, General Officer Commanding, 81 Division

Babalola urged participants to embrace the six-month programme with commitment, noting that the skills acquired would shape their future as potential employers of labour and community leaders. He also reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired personnel through continued support for the centre.

Enhanced Curriculum and National Certification

To ensure the training meets modern economic demands, NAFRC has reviewed its curriculum in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE). This partnership aims to align the centre’s vocational training with nationally recognised certification standards, improving the graduates' competitiveness in the open labour market.

The Commandant of NAFRC, Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, described the retiring personnel as the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs. He noted that the curriculum now includes entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and information technology alongside traditional vocational studies to foster a mindset of self-reliance.

The curriculum enhancement will ensure that certificates earned at the Centre enjoy wider national recognition and improve graduates' competitiveness in the labour market.

— Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ilo, Commandant, NAFRC

Ilo also advised participants to maintain the high standards of discipline they built over decades of service. He cautioned against actions that could damage their reputations, such as the misuse of social media, and encouraged them to use established administrative channels to address any grievances during their stay at the centre.

Programme Scope and Vocational Disciplines

A total of 840 personnel were nominated for the residential programme, comprising 523 from the Nigerian Army, 89 from the Nigerian Navy, and 228 from the Nigerian Air Force. According to the Director of Training, Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, 689 personnel have successfully completed documentation and medical screening, while 136 were returned to their units after being declared medically unfit for the current course.

Participants will engage in diverse vocational disciplines, including agriculture, information technology, automobile mechanics, welding, tailoring, and bakery. The programme also covers specialized fields such as leather works, refrigeration, photography, ceramics, and security management, ensuring that every participant finds a niche suitable for their post-service career.

Attendance, discipline, professionalism and strict compliance with Centre regulations would remain compulsory throughout the residential programme.

— Brigadier General Isang Akpaumontia, Director of Training, NAFRC

The Director of Training expressed confidence that the participants would graduate equipped with the competence and entrepreneurial mindset required to excel in civilian life. The ceremony concluded with the formal inauguration of the course, beginning a new phase for the retiring officers and ratings.