By Omolola Fadile, Jos
The Nigerian Army says the force is determined to leverage on Advanced Technologies to improve personnel Operations and effectiveness.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja stated this at a seminar on “Digital Transformation and Smart Soldier Concept” organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, held at the headquarters of 3 Division in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking on behalf of the Army chief, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 3 Division, and Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major General Abudulsalam Abubakar, revealed that the concept of the “smart soldier” is at the heart of the desired transformation of the Nigerian Army, hence the need for the Nigerian Army to stay ahead of technological trends, equip soldiers with the knowledge and tools including smart devices and wearable technology, to improve communication, situational awareness, and decision-making in combat scenarios that allow them to operate effectively in a digitized environment.
“The seminar is thus critical, considering the challenges bedeviling our dear nation, which requires focused leadership, operational effectiveness, and sound administration, which are the pillars of my command philosophy. It must, however, be noted that transformation is not merely adopting new technologies; rather, it is about fostering a culture of innovation and encouraging adaptability in a rapidly changing operating environment. The success of this transformation will then largely depend on our ability to seamlessly integrate new technologies with the human elements to ensure that soldiers remain agile, informed, and prepared,” he said.
The Army Boss thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous guidance and invaluable support to the Nigerian Army and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army towards improving the security situation across the country.
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The Deputy Director, Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, Army Headquarters, Major Gen. Adewale Adetoba, stated that the theme of the seminar was timely and apt, taking into consideration the evolving nature of the Nigerian Army operations environment.
“I encourage participants to take advantage of the seminar to broaden their scope of knowledge through the effective use of digital technologies in combating Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other social vices in the Country and to remain open-minded and contribute meaningfully, as the interactive sessions would foster positive engagement and operational effectiveness,” he stated.
The seminar, with the theme ‘Leveraging Digital Transformation for Enhanced Operations Effectiveness in the Nigeria Army: Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Perspective’, is organized for junior and middle cadre personnel of the force.
