To equip them with valuable managerial and business development skills, the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, on Monday commenced training for 31 mid-level and senior officers drawn from the three services of the military.
The course being the first time the participants will learn skills to better their lives, business acumen and personal growth, was organized in collaboration with EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation.
For the next six weeks participants ranked from Major to two-star Generals would be exposed to tailored courses aimed at preparing them to set up profitable businesses while in service and upon retirement.
While 17 of the participants are of the ranks of Major to Lt.-Col, the remaining 14 were of the Colonel to Major-General cadre.
Speaking at the inauguration, NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Bashir Mamman, expressed optimism for the transformative potential of the course.
He stressed that the course was not pre-retirement programme but a critical aspect of preparing officers for the realities of post-service life.
“This course will equip you with the skills, mindset, and resilience needed to navigate the dynamic world of business and leadership. It aligns with our mandate to provide quality training that adequately prepares personnel for reintegration into civilian life,” he said.
According to AVM Mamman, over 200 senior officers have benefitted from the course since it was introduced in the centre, adding that it was expected that the number would keep growing with the quarterly rollout of the programme.
He said over 47,000 Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) and NCOs successfully had been trained since the inception of NAFRC, adding that many of them currently run small and medium-scale businesses across Nigeria.
Mamman charged participants to fully embrace the opportunity to plan, strategize, and begin building their entrepreneurial future while still in service.
“Success in entrepreneurship is not just about a great idea, but about strategic planning, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to hard work,” Mamman added.
Earlier, the Country Director of EMPRETEC, Mrs. Onari Duke, commended the Defence Headquarters and NAFRC leadership for their unwavering commitment to officers’ development.
She said the collaboration reflected a national need to shift focus from traditional employment to entrepreneurship in addressing economic challenges.
“NAFRC’s commitment to capacity building is critical in today’s entrepreneurial landscape. This course will empower senior and mid-level officers with the skills required to succeed as entrepreneurs and managers in their post-service journeys.”
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Mrs. Duke highlighted the comprehensive curriculum for the training, which includes practical sessions, workshops, and visits to successful enterprises within and outside the country.
She emphasized that the training represents a vital mindset shift for officers who have long devoted their lives to selfless service, adding that it would offer them a rare opportunity to invest in personal growth and future impact.
The Nation reports that some of the courses outlined for the participants during this period include 21st Century leadership challenges; strategic thinking for profitability, financial modelling and budget forecasting; project management; conflict resolution and Corporate Governance.
Others include emotional mastery; inventory management; health and wellness; business expansion, and product specification.
