The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has described languages as the best mirrors of the human mind. This was made known during the inauguration ceremony of Indigenous Languages Proficiency Course 6 for officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA).
The COAS, who was represented by the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Major General James Myiam said that the ability to communicate with the local population is a key requirement for success in human domain of operations and within the operating environment.
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The Representative of the COAS explained that, if officers and soldiers are to adequately fit into the domestic security environment and be on top of the contemporary security challenges, they need to be proficient in local languages, particularly, the three major ones: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
According to him, the 21st Century of operational environment has changed with the emergence of the human domain of operation. He said that, “the military objective in the human domain is the ability to influence targeted individuals and groups better than the adversary”.
Speaking earlier, the Director General NARC, Major General Garba Ayodeji Wahab (rtd) stated that, the continuation of the course was informed as a result of the tremendous successes recorded as well as the overall performance of participants during and after the previous courses conducted at the Centre.
He charged the participants to continuously recertify themselves positively as failure at three attempts will result in decertification and loss of benefits derived from the language proficiency.
He further enjoined the participants to show commitment in order to justify the resources committed to the project with a view to actualizing the NA’s Language Policy. He also thanked the COAS for the confidence he reposed in NARC and the opportunity given to them to drive his vision of making NA officers and soldiers proficient in local languages other than their mother tongue.
