By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigerian Army has commenced the Senior Executive Career Transition Programme, SECTP, Cohort 2, to prepare senior officers for productive careers after active service.
The programme began on Monday, August 17, 2026, at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State. It is organised by the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, NAHFC.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Apollonia Anele.
Declaring the programme open, the Special Guest of Honour and former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, Rtd, urged participants to see retirement as the beginning of a new chapter of service and opportunity.
He said the leadership, discipline, integrity and strategic expertise cultivated in the military remain invaluable assets that Nigeria will continue to require long after retirement.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said the programme was conceived five months ago following consultations on the need to institutionalise a structured transition framework for senior officers.
Represented by the Chief of Logistics, Major General AA Adeyinka, the COAS described the initiative as a landmark welfare intervention aligned with global best practices in executive career transition.
He noted that the Army’s obligation to personnel extends beyond active service, and that officers should retire with knowledge, resilience and confidence to thrive in civilian life.
He added that lessons from the inaugural cohort highlighted the importance of mentorship, financial planning and peer learning in addressing the social, economic and psychological realities of retirement.
In his welcome address, the Director General, NAHFC, Major General Tariweriye Gagariga, said Army officers dedicate their most productive years to national defence, and that retirement often brings changes in identity, income and social engagement if not well planned.
He said SECTP was established to provide a sustainable pathway for career transition in line with the COAS’ Command Philosophy, which prioritises personnel welfare and development.
The second cohort comprises 31 participants, including 26 serving senior officers and five recently retired officers.
The Nigerian Army said the programme is aimed at preserving institutional knowledge and ensuring that the leadership experience and strategic insight acquired over decades of service continue to support national security and development.
