From Molly Kilete, Abuja
A three day training program on skill acquisition organized by the Defence Headquarters(DHQ), in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), for retired military officers in the south-south zone of the country has opened in Port Harcourt.
The training will equip the retired personnel with the knowledge on poultry, fish farming, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock farming, integrated farming, irrigation and modern crop farming techniques. The veterans will also receive training on financial literacy, record keeping, agricultural produce processing and packaging as well as marketing and identification of business opportunities.
In his address at the opening ceremony, the Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the training with theme “Empowering Veterans Through Skills Acquisition for Capacity Building and Sustainability” had become necessary to improve the standard of living of veterans and empower them against the effect of dwindling economic conditions.
Represented by the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General J.H Abdulsalam, the CDS, expressed the hope that the knowledge acquired from the training would help the veterans create an enduring business platform that would be a veritable source of sustenance for their families and dependents.
The CDS, while noting that one of the problems faced by veterans is reduction in earnings and spending capacity which negatively affects the quality of their lives and that of their families, said “The dwindling economic conditions in earning and lack of access to alternative source of income result in a vicious cycle of want.
He said “It is based on this perennial problem and the need to empower our veterans that I directed the Veteran Affairs Division to conduct Skills Acquisition Training for veterans nationwide on Geo-political zone basis. I am indeed glad to observe that veterans are not left out in our drive to make life better for service personnel. More so, veterans are critical Stakeholders in our pursuit for improved living condition.
“I am happy that this Skills Acquisition Training will be conducted in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). I am informed that the training would include impartation of skills in such vocations as poultry, fish farming, snail farming, animal husbandry, livestock farming, integrated farming, irrigation and modern crop farming techniques amongst others.
“The training would also include financial literacy, record keeping, agricultural produce processing and packaging as well as marketing and identification of business opportunities. As a farmer I can better imagine the takeaway from this training programme and the benefits accruing to each participant.
The CDS, said that “the essence of this training is to educate participants in various agricultural lines as enumerated above to create a platform for skills acquisition that could enable them to carve niches in the agricultural value chain. A tenacious exploitation of these agricultural value chain has the potential of rejuvenating the livelihood of participants and their dependents. Similarly, the training as programmed, would enable you to be certified by SMEDAN and the certificate could be utilized as a requirement to obtain loans from banks depending on the scope of your intended vocation and business plan”.
Continuing, Gen Musa, said “Considering the crop of facilitators anchoring this programme, I am convinced that at the end of the training you will be adequately educated and prepared to key into the poverty alleviation programmes of the present administration under my stewardship in line with the Renewed Hope initiative (RHI) of His Excellency, The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR”.
“While congratulating you for being nominated for this training programme, I wish to encourage you to make optimum use of the training and this onerous opportunity to network among yourselves and other sundry organizations and individuals”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director Veterans Affairs Division(VAD), at the DHQ, Major General D I Salihu, said the training aimed at ensuring a comfortable and purposeful life for veterans through education, focuses on the importance of improved standard of living.
Salihu, while noting that one of the major reasons for hardship suffered by veterans over the years is lack of proper planning before retirement, described the importance of the training as timely and desirable.
He thanked the CDS, who he said has over the years improved capacity building of personnel, veterans and their dependents as well as support and commitment to the welfare of troops and their families, including veterans and widows of our fallen heroes.
He said a total of 83, participants are taking part in the three day training.