By Henry Oladele
Lagos – The Nigerian Army on Tuesday in Lagos began its 2018 leadership development training for 17 of its Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels on managing crises and chaos in the country.
The training being facilitated by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), is holding at the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Apapa, Lagos.
It has the theme: “The Leadership Edge: Strategies for Overcoming Crisis and Chaos”.
The Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), Maj.-Gen. Richard Duru, while flagging off the seminar, said that there was need to evolve strategies to overcome crisis.
“The choice of the theme is a clear indication that the army is not left behind in the development of leaders.
“As leaders, the need to sharpen our skills and evolve strategies for overcoming crisis and chaos cannot be underestimated.
“Military leadership is the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction and motivation,” he said.
Duru said that decision making in crisis and chaos might require spontaneity and intuition, adding that the ability to take appropriate decision was element of training and experience.
“The Nigerian Army is a key component of the security architecture of Nigeria, therefore, it deserves competent and efficient leaders that will translate ideas into practical roadmaps for actions.
“Leadership development in the army is imperative in view of emerging challenges which have manifested in rampant ethno-religious upheavals and increasing wave of terrorism across the country.
“To successfully handle the current challenges, there is need for purposeful, skillful and dynamic leadership across all the chains of army command,” he said.
Duru, however, enjoined the officers to take the seminar seriously and urged them to make use of the rare opportunity.
Earlier, the Commandant of NASFA, Brig.-Gen. Bamidele Taiwo, said that the seminar was designed for Lieutenant Colonels and Colonels.
He said that the theme was carefully selected to prepare the participants for their day-to-day assignments which require imaginative and creative thinking.
“The theme shall dwell extensively on ways of ensuring effective and efficient management of human resources toward the attainment of optimal performance in their duties.
“The topics to be discussed were carefully selected to meet the expectations of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in improving service delivery in the army,” he said.
(NAN)