Towards eliminating proliferation and harmonizing the capacity of retired and tested military professionals in various fields for the nation’s development, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday flagged off a three day retreat in Abuja to come up with modalities for the establishment of a Veterans Federation of Nigeria.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, initiator of the retreat, said, “The armed forces of Nigeria has an array of highly skilled and well trained personnel in various fields of human endeavour. Most of these personnel have reeiived the best available forms of local and international training and have been exposed to the best practices available worldwide”.
“This therefore means that given the right opportunities and medium, personnel of the armed forces of Nigeria can contribute more to national development not only during their active service years but also as veterans”.
The CDS made this disclosure while declaring open, the retreat with the theme, ‘Unification of Veterans’ Associations in Nigeria: A Panacea for Building a Vibrant Veterans’ Association.
He said, ” The retreat is very important as it brings together, all known veterans associations in order to achieve synergy of effort. Such synergy could be channeled towards improved engagement of veterans in matters germane to national development, security and welfare of members of the association”.
“The armed forces of any nation remained a critical institution not only for the defence of territorial integrity from internal and external aggression but also serves as a vanguard for unity.
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“Such unity is more imperative for Nigerian now, more than ever before. Consequently, it has become necessary to explore all avenues to checkmate the various divisive tendencies that constantly threaten our corporate existence.
” A unified and vibrant veterans’ association has the potential to achieve this purpose, hence the necessity to build on previous workshop and move from nostalgia to productive.
Continuing Gen Olonisakin said, ” It is encouraging to note that the first workshop which took place from 21 – 23 May 2018 was successful as it produced a 10 point communique, some of which have been implemented.
“It is on that success that I directed that this retreat be organized in order to consolidate on the gains of last year’s workshop. I expect this retreat to set up an ad-hoc committee to kick start the Unification process and establishment of the Veterans Federation of Nigeria”.
” I also expect the retreat to set up a steering committee to run the affairs of the proposed federation, a contact group to seek support of the 9th National Assembly for the quick passage of the VFN Bill into law and subsequent take – off of the federation”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Veterans Affairs division DHQ, Major General Lawal Abdullahi disclosed that the CDS I organizing the retreat is desirous of having a unified Veterans Federation that could further utilize the talents of the Veterans as it is done in several other countries.
“It is our hope that when the Veterans Federation of Nigeria debuts, veterans could be organized into specialists to provide specialized services professionally as is done for instance, by the MPRI of the USA.
“It is also believed that in order for the various veterans associations and the nation to benefit maximally, from the large human resource base of the veterans and the Works Veterans Federation (WVF), there is need to restructure and unite internally.
END
