CDS Urges Retired Military Personnel to Embrace Skills Acquisition
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, is calling on military retirees to take up vocational training and entrepreneurship as a way to secure sustainable livelihoods after their service.
Speaking at the launch of a skills‑acquisition program organized by Defence Headquarters, the CDS emphasized that the initiative is designed to help veterans adapt to the current economic climate.
He explained that many ex‑servicemen face a decline in purchasing power and limited sources of income post-retirement.
The training will cover a variety of vocational skills, including poultry farming, fishery, snail farming, livestock management, and modern crop techniques.
Participants will also be taught financial literacy, business record-keeping, agro-produce processing, marketing strategies, and how to identify profitable business opportunities.
According to the CDS, the goal is not only to equip veterans with practical skills, but also to help them build sustainable agribusinesses.
He underscored that the discipline, leadership, and experience of military veterans are valuable assets for national development.
The programme is being implemented through the Veterans Affairs Division of the Defence Headquarters and is being rolled out across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The CDS urged the retirees to fully engage with the training and explore opportunities for collaboration, saying that the initiative represents a “transformative effort” to improve their welfare and contribute to the country’s economy.