In a ceremony held on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, the Nigerian Army, under the purview of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC NA), recognized and honored 35 outstanding officers with various awards for their exceptional performance in the examinations conducted by the TRADOC NA in the year 2023.
In an official statement, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba said the event unfolded at the Headquarters TRADOC Officers’ Mess, located within the Military Cantonment in Minna, Niger State, and was graced by the presence of Major General SG Mohammed, the Chief of Training Army Headquarters, who represented Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff.
He said these merit awards were distributed across several categories, reflecting different levels of excellence attained in the examinations administered by the TRADOC NA during the outgoing year. Notable categories included the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation Award for Excellence, the Lieutenant-Captain Practical Promotion Examination, Awards for the Best Candidates Per Subject, and Captain to Major Practical Promotion Examination, alongside recognition for achievements in the Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination, among others.
Major General KO Aligbe, the Commander TRADOC NA, received commendation from the representative of the Chief of Army Staff for fostering a culture of healthy competition among candidates, emphasizing the importance of sound capacities in line with the COAS’s vision to transform the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force, dedicated to fulfilling constitutional responsibilities in a joint environment.
The awards were hailed as a means to inspire junior commanders to pursue excellence and instill a culture of hard work, thereby fostering high standards of professionalism within the Nigerian Army.
Expressing gratitude, the CoAS commended the Commander TRADOC for laying a solid foundation for continued excellence in the institution. He extended his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for strategic directives and enabling the Nigerian Army to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
In his welcome address, Major General Kevin Aligbe, the Commander TRADOC, emphasized that the Merit Awards were designed to recognize and reward excellence, which he identified as a pivotal driver of success. He further underscored the role of the awards in promoting and enhancing overall service and administrative efficiency, contributing to the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
The event’s highlight included the presentation of awards and souvenirs to dignitaries, such as former Commanders TRADOC NA, Corps Commanders, principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters, Departmental Chiefs of TRADOC NA, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, and Heads of Security Agencies in Niger State, among others.
The ceremony culminated in the commissioning of significant projects at the Minna Military Cantonment by the representative of the Chief of Army Staff, marking a momentous occasion in the ongoing commitment to excellence within the Nigerian Army.
