Youths in the South West of the Country have been advised to take advantage and benefits of joining the Nigeria Army, as an opportunity to sustain and secure their future.
Brigadier-General Adegoke Adetuyi, who led a team from the Army Headquarters, Abuja, said this at a recruitment sensitisation exercise, organised by Ogun State government, through the Bureau of Cabinet and Special Services, at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He informed that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu had approved the recruitment of about 6,250 recruits shared amongst the 36 States and the FCT, with a total of 170 slots per State, adding that the recruitment was free of charge, and the portal closes on May 17, 2025.
General Adetuyi stated that leading on the application chart presently was Kaduna State with 3,324, followed by Adamawa State with 2,243 applicants, saying that the number of applicants from South West was poor unlike the Northern States.
He charged youths to key into the recruitment exercise, going by the unemployment rate in the Country, as there were many benefits in serving one’s nation as an Army Officer.
“Some of the benefits of joining the Nigerian Army include, secured future, monthly renumeration, regular payments of allowances, sustainable pension, opportunities for additional studies, platform to relate with people from different parts of the country and understand their mentality. Also, welfare and insurance schemes are available for Officers and is sustainable, one of which is the Post- Service Housing Scheme for retirees,” Adetuyi said.
He added that, Officers who have served in the Nigeria Army for ten years were pensionable, saying that opportunities abound as a soldier to serve in various States as well as outside the country either for peace keeping purpose or advancement in studies.
Speaking on the criteria for recruitment, Major K.E Popoola of Recruitment Department, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, said applicants must meet certain criteria for recruitment; be single, must not have given birth, must be a Nigerian with a valid birth certificate, National Identity Card (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN), possess valid Local Government Certificate of Origin, have the required height, must be fit medically, physically and psychologically and must be ready to undergo toxicology test. Also, he or she must be free from criminal conviction and possess a minimum of four credit passes at O’Level including English and Mathematics at not less than two sittings.
Major Popoola noted that applicants were categorised into two which were tradesmen/women who have skills or vocational training and Non-tradesmen/women who were general recruit without any trade or training.
In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security matters, Deacon Biyi Odubote, who represented the Governor said that the sensitisation exercise was to get the youths to be well informed about the Nigerian Army, so as to avoid misinformation.
Speaking, Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, represented by the Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaimon Bamgbade, both of whom are retired Military officers, attested to the numerous benefits of joining the Nigerian Army, urging the youths in the Southwest to take advantage of the year 2025 recruitment exercise to secure their future, noting that serving the Nigerian Army was a great privilege.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Ipokia Local Government who is also the Public Relations Officer, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Ogun State, Hon, Avoseh Akohomeh, appreciated the Nigerian Army for the sensitisation programme, saying that the majority of youths that needed the sensitisation spend most of their time on the social media, urging the Nigerian Army to key into this as a medium to reach out to the youths.
In his response, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Cabinet and Special Services, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, represented by Mr. Adams Alimson, thanked the Governor for his support in organising the sensitisation and called on the Youth to buy into the opportunity.
