By Evelyn Usman

THE Danjuma Hall of the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre(NAFRC) , Oshodi was last Friday, filled to its capacity, with servicemen from the Nigerian Armed Forces comprising the Army, Navy and Air force, all clad in their respective ceremonial uniforms, thereby adding colour to the graduation ceremony of NAFTRAC Trainees Course 2/2011.

It was indeed a day of jubilation for most of the servicemen who just concluded a six-month retirement course, aimed at preparing them for post service life, as well as to equip them with relevant trades and vocational skills.

A total number of 150 servicemen with 11 from the Army, 17 from Air force and 122 from the Navy.

Unfortunately, one of them from the Nigerian Navy died before the end of the training.

Amidst the pageantry, there were however, mixed feelings among the trainees . While some envisaged a better post service years ahead, others expressed a feeling of uncertainty.

The Centre’s mandate is among other things, to enable retiring service men integrate into civil society and enjoy post service life.

To actualize this, it came up with training objectives aimed at helping retirees establish their own business and to adequately prepare the retirees for gainful employment after retirement, as well as to prepare them psychologically for resettlement into civil life.

In the course of the six months training, the retirees were trained on Management Courses such as General management, Security and Safety Practice ,Management and Entrepreneurship and General Studies.

Other areas of training included Fashion Facilities , comprising Shoe making, barbing, Tailoring, Laundering and weaving workshops.

They were also trained on Fine Arts and printing , soap and Cosmetics, Agriculture, wood work, Building and Civil works, Electrical and Electronics , Auto mechanic, Fabrication and Welding, Music, Information technology and Food and beverages, depending on their areas of specialization.

Addressing the graduating retirees, the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Lieutenant General Onyeabor Azubuike commiserated with them on the loss of their colleague.

He told the servicemen that “you are at a critical stage in your carrier progression in that you are already transiting to civil life. In this regard, the necessity of considering what your post service life would be is indeed paramount. The rigors of post service life are real , you will face challenges such as inadequate funds, managing a new lower social status, problem of securing residential accommodation, ignorance of what to do with retirement benefits an d the attitude of friends and family.

The training you received exposed you to several presentations, lectures, discussions, exercises and industrial training. All these were intended to adequately equip you to survive the stress and strains that are likely to confront you in post service life”

“ You should be prepared to contribute your quota towards the consolidation of the country’s democratic process and national development. I therefore urge you not to forget the challenges of the contemporary environment which calls for prudent management of scarce human and material resources.

“You must uphold the very highest standards of conduct, vis-avis character, integrity, excellence, service and teamwork. You will be held to these standards even while in retirement. You must therefore, spread these values and virtues wherever you find your selves.”

On his part, NAFRC Command, Air Vice Marshal Clement Aroriode, said NAFRC was undergoing transformation process which included plans to collaborate with external bodies particularly in pre-retirement training programme for officers. Some of the external bodies he said, included the Alliance Professional Resources Persons Limited, Enterprise Development Centre, Administrative Staff College, Yaba College of Technology and the University of Lagos.

He disclosed that some workshops that are commercially viable have applied for NAFDAC number to enable them produce in commercial quantity.