The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Jamal Abdussalam has reiterated the need to continuously evolve strategies and methodologies to maintain an edge and stay ahead of adversaries. He made the call today, 24 September, 2024, while declaring open a 4-day, 6 Division Operations Planning Cadre taking place at Python Officers Mess, Port Harcourt Barracks.
The training cadre with the theme “Enhancing Tactical Level Command and Leadership through Effective Operations Planning and Capacity Development” organized for officers of the ranks of Lieutenant Colonels and below. Speaking further, the GOC said he was optimistic that the cadre will, among other benefits, afford the carefully selected resource persons and the participants the opportunity to deliberate and make meaningful contributions.
The GOC stated that the security challenges Nigeria faces today are multidimensional, complex, and often transnational. Thus, it requires increasing the role of technology in shaping military operations and tackling the challenges. He emphasized the need for innovation and adaptability in our operations planing process, adding that this will make meaningful contributions and come up with workable plan that will assist the military most especially, the NA in addressing most operational and administrative challenges that are inimical to NA’s operational engagements in various theatres.
Major General Jamal pointed out that the Cadre is also aimed at developing participants’ decision-making skills, enabling them to make informed, timely, and decisive decisions in high pressure situation. He also reminded participants that in time past, wars were fought with traditional strategies and conventional weapons. However, today, he added that the battlefield has expanded on to new domains, such as cyber space and information warfare. He urged commanders to essentially understand and leverage technologies to enhance operational effectiveness in achieving mission success.
The operations planning cadre, he maintained, will provide an excellent opportunity to discuss and explore as well as foster coordination between different services and agencies. This is crucial in the ability to effectively harness technology. The GOC highlighted that the NA operations no longer exist in isolating, stressing that they require collaboration across multiple dimension and partners.
The operations planning cadre had a series of lectures and practical sessions, with the lead presentation by Brigadier General Ibekunle Daniel(rtd). The program also had participants drawn from formations and units within 6 Division Area of Responsibility. It also had participants from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.