By Bako Christopher, Niger State
The Nigerian Army has commenced the second cohort of its Senior Executive Career Transition Programme, SECTP, in a renewed push to prepare senior officers for life after service and retain their expertise for national development.
The programme began on Monday, August 17, 2026, at the Zuma Rock Resort, Suleja, Niger State. It is being coordinated by the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, NAHFC.
A total of 31 participants are in Cohort 2 — comprising 26 serving senior officers and five recently retired officers.
Declaring the programme open, former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), urged participants to see retirement as a transition, not an end.
He said the leadership, discipline, integrity and strategic skills built in the Army remain critical assets Nigeria will continue to need after retirement.
“Embrace the future with confidence, strategic planning and optimism,” Gen Yahaya told the officers.
Represented by Chief of Logistics (Army), Major General AA Adeyinka, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, said the programme was conceived five months ago to institutionalise a structured transition framework for senior officers.
He described SECTP as a landmark welfare intervention aligned with global best practices in executive career transition.
“The Nigerian Army’s obligation to its personnel extends beyond years of active service,” the COAS stated. “Officers should retire not only with statutory benefits, but with the knowledge, resilience and confidence to thrive in civilian life.”
He noted that lessons from the first cohort highlighted the importance of mentorship, financial planning, professional guidance and peer learning in managing the social, economic and psychological realities of retirement.
Well-prepared retirees, he added, remain valuable national assets for governance, security and socio-economic development.
In his welcome address, Director General of NAHFC, Major General Tariweriye Gagariga, said Army officers dedicate their most productive years to national defence through rigorous training and operations.
“Retirement often brings profound changes in identity, income and social engagement if not deliberately planned for,” he said.
He explained that SECTP was established to provide a sustainable pathway for transition in line with the COAS’ Command Philosophy, which places personnel welfare, morale and development at the centre of policy.
Through SECTP, the Nigerian Army says it is building an enduring human-capital system that preserves institutional knowledge while empowering retiring personnel to remain productive and relevant.
The Army added that the leadership experience and strategic insight acquired over decades of service will continue to support Nigeria’s security architecture and national development long after active service.
