Nigerian Army has commenced the second cohort of its Senior Executive Career Transition Programme (SECTP), an initiative designed to equip senior officers with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully transition into civilian life after retirement.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, who said the programme commenced on August 17, 2026, at Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State. She explained that the exercise is being coordinated by the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre (NAHFC) and has drawn 31 participants comprising 26 serving senior officers and five recently retired officers.
According to the statement, the programme is intended to prepare officers for life beyond active military service while ensuring that the wealth of experience, leadership and strategic knowledge acquired during their careers continues to contribute to national development.
Declaring the programme open, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), urged participants to embrace retirement as the beginning of a new phase of service rather than the end of their professional journey.
He encouraged the officers to approach the transition with confidence, careful planning and optimism, stressing that the discipline, leadership qualities, integrity and strategic thinking developed in the military would remain valuable assets in civilian life.
Yahaya noted that retirement often comes with significant adjustments, including changes in professional identity, income, responsibilities and social engagement, adding that proper preparation would enable officers to navigate the transition successfully.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said the framework for the programme was conceived barely five months ago following consultations on the need for a structured transition initiative for senior officers.
Represented by the Chief of Logistics (Army), Major General A.A. Adeyinka, the Army Chief described the programme as a major welfare initiative that has rapidly evolved into a strategic institutional policy aligned with global best practices in executive career transition and personnel development.
He maintained that the Army’s responsibility to its personnel should not end upon retirement, insisting that officers should leave active service not only with their statutory benefits but also with the resilience, knowledge and confidence required to thrive in civilian careers.
Shaibu added that feedback from the inaugural edition highlighted the importance of mentorship, financial planning, professional guidance and peer learning in helping officers prepare for the economic and social realities of retirement.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Major General Tariweriye Gagariga, observed that military personnel dedicate the most productive years of their lives to defending the nation, often under demanding operational conditions.
He explained that retirement could present major changes in identity and social interaction if not properly planned for, making a structured transition programme essential.
Gagariga said the SECTP was established to provide senior officers with a sustainable pathway into post-service life in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s commitment to personnel welfare, morale and professional development.
Beyond supporting retiring officers, the programme is also expected to help preserve the institutional knowledge accumulated over decades of military service. By enabling retiring officers to transfer their expertise into civilian careers and other national assignments, the Army hopes to ensure that their operational experience and leadership skills continue to benefit the country.
With 31 officers participating in the second cohort, the initiative reflects the Nigerian Army’s growing commitment to preparing its personnel not only for the demands of military service but also for productive and fulfilling lives after retirement.
