The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has expressed the determination of the Nigerian Army to empower its personnel with advanced technologies and equipment such as smart devices, wearable technology, and other tools to enhance situational awareness, communication, and decision-making on the battlefield.
General Lagbaja disclosed this on Thursday at a seminar on “Digital Transformation and Smart Soldier Concept” organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, held at the headquarters of 3 Division, Jos.
Lagbaja, who was represented by the commandant of 3 Division Jos and OPSH, Major Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, disclosed that the concept of the “smart soldier” is at the heart of the desired transformation of the Nigerian Army, hence the need for equipping soldiers with the tools, knowledge, and capabilities that allow them to operate effectively in a digitised environment.
“It must, however, be noted that transformation is not merely adopting new technologies; rather, it is about fostering the culture of innovation and encouraging adaptability in a rapidly changing operating environment. The success of this transformation will then largely depend on our ability to seamlessly integrate new technologies with the human elements to ensure that soldiers remain agile, informed, and prepared for any challenge.
“The seminar is thus critical, considering the challenges bedevilling our dear nation, which requires focused leadership, operational effectiveness, and sound administration, which are the pillars of my command philosophy,” he mentioned.
He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous guidance and invaluable support to the Nigerian Army and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army towards improving the welfare of the troops and the security situation across the country.
In his address, the Deputy Director, Department of Army Transformation and Innovation, Army Headquarters, Major Gen. Adewale Adetoba, acknowledged that the theme of the seminar was timely and apt, taking into consideration the evolving nature of the Nigerian Army operations environment.
He charged participants to take advantage of the seminar to widen their scope of knowledge through the effective use of digital technologies in combating Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other social vices in Nigeria.
The seminar, tagged “Leveraging Digital Transformation for Enhanced Operations Effectiveness in the Nigeria Army: Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Perspective, is specifically meant for junior and middle cadre personnel.