The Nigerian Army, through its Department of Civil-Military Affairs, has intensified efforts to boost enlistment across the South-East, launching a strategic awareness campaign aimed at correcting misconceptions and encouraging greater youth participation in military service.

At the maiden sensitisation programme held in Umuahia, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, explained that the initiative was designed to educate youths, traditional rulers, and civil society groups on the numerous career opportunities available within the Army, while also addressing long-standing concerns about recruitment, welfare, and deployment.

Supporting the campaign, retired senior military officers lent their voices to reassure the public.
Major General Gold Chibuisi, who delivered a lecture titled “Guardian of the Nation: A Clarion Call,” urged South-East youths to embrace military service, highlighting career paths in medicine, law, engineering, and other professional fields. He dismissed fears of ethnic profiling and dangerous postings targeted at specific regions, assuring that welfare, promotions, and opportunities in the Army are based on merit and due process.

Also speaking, Major General Chukwunedum Abraham revealed alarming statistics from recent recruitment exercises, noting that only 671 applicants emerged from Imo State and 428 from Ebonyi State,figures he described as significantly low compared to other geopolitical zones.
He called for a change in attitude to ensure the region is adequately represented in the nation’s security architecture.

In a goodwill message, Abia State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Ahukwa, commended the initiative, describing the Army as a dynamic and inclusive institution offering opportunities for both men and women across diverse sectors including information technology, logistics, administration, and healthcare.
She stressed that Nigeria’s future depends on disciplined and visionary youths willing to serve as custodians of peace and national development.

Building on the Federal Government-led initiative, Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, reiterated his administration’s commitment to reversing the state’s poor enlistment record.
He expressed concern that Abia has consistently ranked among states with the lowest number of applicants in military recruitment exercises.

Governor Otti urged youths in the state to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the ongoing sensitisation campaign, assuring that his government would collaborate with the military to improve participation levels and change the prevailing narrative.
The awareness campaign marks a renewed push by the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army to strengthen national unity, promote inclusiveness, and ensure balanced representation of all regions within the armed forces.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has thanked the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for approving the establishment of an Air Force base and special training centre in the state, describing the move as a major step towards strengthening security in Abia and the South-East region.
Governor Otti made this known when he received a delegation from the Nigerian Air Force Ground Training Command led by the Air Officer Commanding, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Gabriel Kehinde, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Umuahia.

During the meeting, the Governor approved 100 hectares of land within the Abia Airport Project Site for the Nigerian Air Force to establish its training base, in response to the Air Force’s request for an expansion of the earlier 50 hectares allocated for the project.
Governor Otti assured the delegation that the state government would work closely with the Air Force to ensure the success of the project and deepen the existing security partnership.
“We are going to work with the team to see how we can at the minimum increase the space to at least 100 hectares. You can take it for granted that you have at least 100 hectares of land in that place,” the Governor said.

He further assured the delegation that the state government would facilitate the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) within 30 days, noting that the process has been streamlined to encourage development and investment in the state.
Governor Otti also disclosed that the Administrative Office Complex being constructed for the Nigerian Air Force in Umuahia would be completed before the end of April, adding that the government would ensure the contractor delivers the project on schedule ahead of a planned visit by the Chief of Air Staff.
Speaking on the Abia Airport project, the Governor explained that the airport is a joint partnership between the Abia State Government and the Federal Government, with the state responsible for constructing the runway and perimeter fencing, while the Federal Government will handle the terminal building.
“We expect the runway to be ready very soon, and once the runway is operational, other components of the airport can follow gradually,” he said, adding that discussions are ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Aviation to ensure timely completion of the project.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Gabriel Kehinde, commended Governor Otti for his administration’s proactive approach to security and support for the military.
He noted that intelligence and security reports across the South-East indicate that Abia State is currently ahead of other states in the region in terms of security stability.
“As the Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command in Enugu, I receive daily security reports across the South-East states. Comparatively, Abia State is well ahead of other South-East states.
“Abia is standing out and I cannot but agree that this does not happen accidentally. It must be the result of proactive leadership and serious support for security agencies,” he said.
Air Vice Marshal Kehinde also revealed that the Chief of Air Staff is interested in expanding the Nigerian Air Force presence in Abia State, particularly at the airport site with the establishment of a Special Forces Training Centre for job training and jungle warfare operations.
He explained that the centre would significantly enhance operational readiness and strengthen security not only in Abia State but across the South-East region.

The Air Force Commander further commended the Abia State Government for renovating the NAF administrative headquarters and residential facilities for officers and airmen in Umuahia, describing them as modern and well-equipped.
He also disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff is planning to visit Abia State personally to assess the facilities being developed and appreciate the state government for its support to the Air Force.
Present during the visit were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (Rtd), the Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Chukwunonye Alajemba, and other top government officials.

The Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs in Abia State, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, has called on Nigerian youths, including young women, to take advantage of career opportunities in the Nigerian Army by embracing military service as a noble path toward national development.

She made the call during the maiden edition of the Sensitisation Awareness Campaign on Career Prospects in the Nigerian Army, held under the theme “Guardian of the Nation: A Clarion Call.”

The commissioner described the initiative as timely and strategic, noting that it goes beyond recruitment to promote patriotism, discipline, and nation-building among the youth.

Dr. Aghukwa commended the Department of Civil‑Military Affairs, Nigerian Army for organizing the campaign, emphasizing that the programme will inspire young people to view military service as an honourable and rewarding profession.

According to her, the Nigerian Army remains one of the nation’s most respected institutions, symbolizing courage, sacrifice, and unity. She highlighted the Army’s role not only in defending the country’s territorial integrity but also in peacekeeping operations, disaster response, community development, and protection of lives and property.

The Commissioner expressed particular delight that the awareness campaign encourages participation from both men and women, stressing that the modern Nigerian Army is inclusive and offers diverse professional opportunities.

“These opportunities span various fields including engineering, medicine, law, information technology, logistics, and administration,” she said, adding that young women are equally capable of answering the nation’s call to service.

Addressing the youth, Dr. Aghukwa urged them to contribute their strength, intelligence, and integrity toward building a stronger nation.

“Military service is not merely a job; it is a noble calling that shapes character, builds resilience, and instills lifelong values,” she stated.

She further assured that the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs will continue to collaborate with relevant institutions to mobilize and empower young people especially women to explore dignified and impactful career paths such as those offered by the Nigerian Army.

Dr. Aghukwa expressed hope that the maiden edition of the campaign would strengthen engagement between the military and local communities, while inspiring a new generation of disciplined and patriotic citizens committed to the unity and progress of Nigeria.