Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has said the Nigerian Army is focused on the employment of simulation technologies for learning, training and testing to boost its capacity to cope with emerging challenging military conflicts and associated asymmetric threats confronting the nation.
He said the establishment of the Land Forces Simulation Center was therefore premised on the urgent need to extensively deploy simulation technology for capacity building and force multiplication in line with his vision which is ‘To have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles’.
Speaking at the maiden training of Simulation Managers and Systems Operators at the Land Forces Simulation Center, Nigeria, in Abuja, the COAS represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General Enobong Udoh, the COAS said, “It is pertinent to state that Simulation – based military training has gained popularity worldwide amongst defence organizations as it offers the dual benefit of boosting operational effectiveness while reducing cost.
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He said, “Militaries around the world have to keep up with major technological advancements in equipment and operate in a complex and dynamic environments including non – traditional threats and growth of information warfare.
“You all agree with me that the pace of change is so fast that traditional training methods are no longer able to reflect the new operational reality”.
Commending MASA group of France for organizing the simulation training in partnership with the Nigerian Army, the COAS said, ‘I am glad to note that the Land Forces Simulation Center, Nigeria is living up to expectation by focusing on strategies to fast track its development
“I wish to use this opportunity to acknowledge team led by the CEO, Mr. Marc de Fritsch who agreed to facilitate this training. My appreciation goes to the group for availing this Center with licenses of trial version of the MASA Simulated War Gaming for operational readiness and Doctrine Software, on gratis”, the COAS added.
Earlier, the Director General of the Land Forces Simulation Center, Major General Clement Olukoju noted that simulation is an inherent and fundamental aspect of operation planning for any modern army, as it is a vital pre-requisite for preparing military forces for operational engagement through realistic training.
“It is on these bases that the COAS in his wisdom established this Center in March 2019 as the premier combat and equipment simulation outfit of the Nigerian Army with a view to providing an environment where simulation technology can be utilized for purpose of enhancing operational efficiency”.
“The Center since its inception has embarked on aggressive technical and institutional collaboration within and outside the country to fast track its development. The successes of these collaborations are premised on the COAS kind approval of Army headquarters teams’ visits to some simulation facilities as well as international conferences, fairs and exhibition”.
“These visits afforded the Center to have in-depth discussion with some reputable companies with wealth of experience in decision making software. Worthy of note is the MASA group which is facilitating this training as well as providing licenses for battle simulation software for the Center on gratis.
He continued, “The objective of this training is to ensure that participants are taken through the rudiments of battle simulation technology, enhancing capacity in areas of doctrine research, operational readiness and doctrine (SWORD) software.
“Added to this, participants trained would form a credible data base for Nigerian Army Simulation Managers that would be required to closely liaise with the Land Forces Simulation Center Nigeria on all simulation exercises of their respective formations.
Present at the occasion were the Chief of Account and Budget, Major General Bakare, Chief of Administration, Major General Yusuf, Commander, Army headquarters Garrison, Major General Myan, Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Solomon Udounwa, Major General Ochigbano, Military Secretary, Army, Major General Adesope, and Commander, Nigeria Army Cyber Warfare Command, Brig General Lassa
