By Augustine Ehikioya
To be at alert always, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Task Force (South East) Operation UDO KA II, Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada has charged the graduating students of Exercise Shining Star IV to be security conscious at all times.
This, he said, was necessary considering the security threats within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
The GOC, gave the charge during the graduation ceremony of Exercise Shining Star IV 2023, held on Wednesday 27 September, 2023 at 82 Division Training School Exercise area, Abakpa Cantonment, Enugu.
This was contained in a statement by the Ag Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col Jonathan Unuakhalu, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “While expressing optimism, General Dada noted that the participants had utilized the best opportunity offered them by the school so as to effectively carry out assigned task as a well-trained Soldier.
“He commended the graduands for their commitment and discipline throughout the training. He further commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja for approving the conduct of the exercise within Divisions to enable troops perform their constitutional roles professionally in line with global best practices.
“He equally appreciated the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for his constant support to Headquarters 82 Division.
“While commending the Division Training Officer, Brigadier General Okhume Ejere and instructors of 82 Division Training School for the successful conduct of the training, he urged the participants to remain resolute in the discharge of their duties especially those inducted in various ongoing Operations.”
General Dada, the statement said, further enjoined the participants to remain discipline and loyal to all constituted authorities which are pillars of professionalism, in line with the COAS command philosophy which is “To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving Our Conditional Responsibility within a Joint Environment”.
Speaking earlier, the Divisional Training Officer, Brigadier General Okhume Ejere, thanked the COAS graciously for approval to run the training exercise “Shining Star” in 2023 training year.
Participants, he disclosed, were drawn from various formations within the 82 Division Area of Responsibility which includes 13 and 14 Brigades, 82 Division Garrison and 103 Battalion.
He further disclosed that Exercise Shinning Star was geared at providing a common platform for harmonized post basic training for selected young soldiers across the Nigerian Army formations.
He added that the training was very practical and was dominated with Field Training Exercises, toughening through endurance run/walk with various weight load.
The DTO maintained that the training also exposed the young soldiers to realistic and battle focused training aimed at enhancing their ability to operate in teams and under actual command and control involving officers, SNCOs and NCOs.
General Ejere, expressed gratitude to the participants for their commitments towards the training and urged them to make proper use of what they have learnt in the discharge of their military duties.
