The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai has said that his approval for the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) to be conducting the Indigenous Languages Proficiency Course for the Nigerian Army personnel was informed by the prevalent domestic security environment. He also said that with threats of terrorism, insurgency ethno-kidnapping, cultism and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, amongst many other challenges across the country it is imperative troops acquaint themselves with host communities language to enhance their operations. The COAS stated this today Friday 9th August 2019 during the graduation ceremony of the Indigenous Languages Course 5/2019 held at the NARC, Abuja.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Army (COPP) (A) Lt Gen LO Adeosun further expressed his delight for the successful conduct of the indigenous languages courses at the centre over time. He also commended the participants for their exemplary conduct and determination during the two Months period at the Centre with a demonstration of high degree of commitment, enthusiasm and discipline throughout the duration of the Course. “I am therefore convinced that you have all benefited from this important programme, for your benefits as individuals and the system as a whole”, he said.
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He reiterated that the prevalent security threats has necessitated the deployment of troops in almost all the states of the federation for internal security and particularly, the North East on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. “As you all know, internal security and counter-insurgency operations are intelligence driven. Therefore, the Nigerian Army’s ability to adequately and professionally respond to these domestic security challenges depends largely on our ability to communicate and interact effectively with the local populace. Thus, proficiency in the local language will facilitate the NA’s ability to penetrate and dominate the local operating environment” he said.
He further stressed, that against this backdrop, a key requirement for success in this domain, is the mastery of local languages, which informed the NA language policy and initiative. He also congratulated the NARC and Laclic Services Limited for the successes recorded so far in bringing the policy initiative to a reality. He added that the language policy is now firmly entrenched as a part of the NA’’s training programme.
Furthermore, he admonished the Graduands, to see their certification as the beginning of the learning process. He also urged them to continue to use every opportunity that comes their way to improve on their current proficiency so that over time they would become fluent and capable of engaging people, particularly locals and stakeholders at various places of deployment for the benefit of the NA and the nation in general.
He charged the Graduands to continuously recertify themselves positively as failure at three attempts will result in decertification and loss of benefits derived from the language proficiency. He equally congratulated each and every one of the Graduands for a successful graduation ceremony. Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General NARC, Maj Gen GA Wahab stated that the NARC languages programme was conceptualized when the Centre recognised the need to support the ongoing effort for the realization of the NA Language Policy and key into the vision of the COAS. He said, it was as a result of this that the Centre entered into partnership with Laclic Services Limited, a leading Language School and Cultural Institution in Nigeria for training of NA personnel in both foreign and indigenous languages.
He emphasized that one of the cardinal objectives of the training was to ultimately reposition NARC to develop the competences to take over the teaching of these languages, both foreign and indigenous that may be required based on the emerging operational imperatives and exigencies confronting the Nigerian Army.
Additionally, he said the emphasis on indigenous language course was heightened by the COAS sensitivity to the dynamic nature of Nigeria’s domestic security environment which is littered with a plethora of threats whose potency is to undermine the national security. High point of the ceremony were the presentation of play lets by the graduands and certificates of participation to the graduands by the Special Guest of Honour.
