The Nigerian Army has taken a significant step towards enhancing its operational capabilities by graduating 152 personnel from a specialized Indigenous Language Course. The graduation ceremony, which marked the 20th edition of the program, was held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) on Friday.
Boosting Intelligence Through Language
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, presided over the event, emphasizing the critical link between language proficiency and military success. He stated that the Nigerian Army's operations are largely intelligence-driven, and the ability to communicate effectively with local populations is paramount for gathering credible intelligence.
Proficiency in local languages will enable personnel to adequately communicate and gather intelligence, thereby boosting their ability to counter and react to threats, Shaibu affirmed. He urged the graduating soldiers to immerse themselves in practicing at least two or three of Nigeria's major languages: Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba.
A Strategic Military Initiative
This course is the 10th program in the 2025 training cycle and aligns with the Nigerian Army Language Policy. The Director-General of NARC, Maj.-Gen. James Myam, explained that the initiative was introduced to strengthen the capacity of personnel to communicate effectively in indigenous languages. This enhances operational effectiveness, builds trust with host communities, and supports information gathering for intelligence purposes.
Shaibu reminded the graduates of an annual online language recertification test to ascertain their proficiency. The results of this test will determine their eligibility to continue receiving the pecuniary benefits associated with the course, with failure leading to a withdrawal of such incentives.
Upholding Discipline and Professionalism
In his address, the Army Chief charged the soldiers to uphold the culture of discipline, accountability, and professionalism in their various units. He noted that the Nigerian Army remains at the forefront of the fight against terrorism and insurgency, making profound sacrifices for the nation's peace and security.
Our key focus as an Army, especially at this defining period of our nationhood, must be on enhanced operational effectiveness and good administration, Shaibu said. He urged the personnel to remain mindful of their sacred responsibility to uphold the traditional, custom, and ethical values of the Nigerian Army, as adherence to these ideals directly influences operational effectiveness.
The Director-General of NARC, Maj.-Gen. James Myam, concluded by urging the graduating participants to continue practising the languages they learned and to strive for greater proficiency, ensuring the programme's objectives are fully realized in the field.
