By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, on Monday, 21st July 2025, paid a maiden operational visit to Depot Nigerian Army (NA) in Osogbo, Osun State, where he underscored the importance of effective training and high professional standards in grooming future soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the visit was part of the COAS’s broader effort to assess operational capacity across Army training formations and ensure alignment with his vision of building a well-trained, disciplined, and professional force.
While addressing officers and instructors at the Depot, General Oluyede emphasized that the quality of training at the foundational level has a direct impact on the Army’s operational effectiveness. He charged the personnel to embrace excellence and commitment in the discharge of their duties.
“I urge you all to key into my vision for the Nigerian Army which is focused on capacity development and enhanced professionalism. The training and moulding of recruits must be done with dedication and passion, because what you invest in them today will reflect in the battlefield tomorrow. We must produce soldiers that Nigerians will be proud of, disciplined, capable, and mission-ready,” the Army Chief stated.
During the visit, the COAS undertook a comprehensive tour of the training facilities and other infrastructure within the Depot. He inspected physical training equipment, lecture halls, parade grounds, and accommodation blocks, with the aim of identifying areas requiring upgrade or intervention to bolster operational readiness.
His assessment, according to Army authorities, is part of a broader plan to enhance institutional capability and ensure that the Depot continues to serve as a reliable breeding ground for competent personnel.
The visit comes at a time when the Nigerian Army is placing renewed focus on professionalism, discipline, and performance in response to emerging security challenges. General Oluyede’s visit was thus seen by many within the military community as both symbolic and strategic, signifying the Army Chief’s commitment to grooming the next generation of soldiers from the ground up.
The Depot Nigerian Army, located in Osogbo, remains the premier training institution for the Army’s non-commissioned recruits, playing a critical role in shaping the core manpower of the force.
