The Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) held its first-ever combined graduation ceremony for the Senior Leadership and Staff Officers’ Course 2/2024 and the Logistics Management Course 22/2024 at its permanent site in Ojo, Lagos.
The event brought together serving and retired senior military officers, dignitaries and professional bodies to celebrate the achievements of the graduating officers.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede (NAM), served as the Special Guest of Honour, while the former COAS Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (cfr) was recognized for his pivotal role in the development of the College’s infrastructure.
Speaking at the ceremony, the COAS commended the graduating officers for their dedication and resilience. He noted that the two programs, which commenced on April 14 and August 16, 2024, involved 140 officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Highlighting the graduates’ successful completion of rigorous training, the COAS praised their commitment to excellence, intellectual prowess, and adherence to the core values of the Nigerian Army.
The COAS explained that the Senior Leadership and Staff Officers Course was designed to equip officers with the skills to lead effectively amidst Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
He emphasized the importance of trust, resilience and inspiring subordinates in various operational contexts. For the Logistics Management Course, the focus was on the critical role of logistics in military operations, particularly in resource management and rapid response. The COAS urged the graduates to apply their training to enhance the Army’s operational efficiency, especially in an era of limited resources.
Reiterating his commitment to transforming the Nigerian Army, the COAS emphasized the importance of professional military education and training. He highlighted the pivotal role of institutions like NACOLM in driving his command philosophy, which is *“To Consolidate the Transformation of the Nigerian Army Towards Bequeathing a Well- Motivated and Combat-Ready Force that can Effectively Discharge its Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment”*. He further announced plans to enhance instructor quality while sustaining high-standard and realistic training. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for his unwavering support and commended the participation of international students from The Gambia and Malawi, which he described as vital to fostering regional security and military-diplomatic collaboration.
In his welcome address, Commandant NACOLM, Major General Wisdom Etuk, reflected on the College’s progress since its establishment in 2003. He explained that NACOLM had expanded its mandate to include leadership and staff courses for junior and mid-level officers. He noted that this year’s graduating cohort included 106 officers from the Senior Leadership and Staff Officers’ Course and 34 officers from the Logistics Management Course. Among the graduates were allied officers from The Gambia and Malawi, further underscoring the College’s role in promoting regional and international military collaboration.
The Commandant stressed that the training programs combined rigorous classroom and field exercises aimed at preparing officers for leadership roles in logistics planning, staff duties and operational management. He commended the COAS for his visionary leadership and immense support, which had significantly enhanced the College’s capacity. The ceremony also featured the commissioning and unveiling of infrastructure upgrades, including a 450 seats capacity auditorium, expanded accommodation facilities as well as new offices and training rooms. These projects, he noted, position NACOLM as a world-class institution.
The event’s highlights included the unveiling and commissioning of new infrastructure, presentation of certificates by the Special Guest of Honour, the conferment of passed senior leadership and staff course (pslsc) award on graduates of SLSOC, presentation of souvenir and a group photograph. The occasion concluded with a meeting of the College Board of Governors (BOG) and tree planting.
Dignitaries present at the event included Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Corps Commanders, Commanders and Commandants of military institutions. Others were past commandants of the College and other esteemed invited guests.
GEORGE OKUPE
Major
College PRO
13 December 2024
