THE Director- General of the Nigerian Army Resource Center, (NARC), Retired Maj.-Gen. Johnny Hamakim, said personnel’s proficiency in indigenous languages would be an indispensable tool in civil-military relations.

Hamakin stated this at the graduation ceremony in indigenous languages proficiency courses in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba for 66 officers and personnel of the Nigerian Army on Friday in Abuja.

The indigenous language courses were organised by the NARC in collaboration with LACLIC Services Ltd., a leading language school and cultural institution in Nigeria.

The director-general who represented by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, Executive Director, Army Resource Center, said the acquisition of indigenous languages was also critical for the attainment of good operational outcomes.

“The reality of our security challenges at the domestic level requires that officers and soldiers are proficient in indigenous languages,’’ he said

He said such development would improve interaction with rural communities and help in intelligent gathering.

“These realities have informed the philosophy behind the collaboration between Nigerian Army Resource Center and LACLIC Services Ltd., a leading language school and cultural institution in Nigeria,’’ he said.

He further said that ethnic diversity and multi-lingualism were key variables that defined the strength and might of the country.

Hamakin, therefore, said it was incumbent on military officers and personnel to leverage on the cultural diversity of the country to widen their horizon on available indigenous languages.

“Learning of indigenous languages can influence and ensure peaceful co- existence, especially, toward achieving national unity, social, cultural, economic and educational advancement of our country.

“At the individual level, proficiency in indigenous languages will enhance your inter-personal communication skills and improve your social affiliations beyond the cultural barriers resulting from lingual diversity.

“More importantly, the new language skills you have acquired as personnel of the Nigerian Army will enhance your operational performance some day.

“This is however, in line with the Chief of Army Staff vision of having a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.

“I want to emphasis at this juncture that you have just acquired the basics of the respective indigenous languages and your proficiency will be hinged on continuous practice,’’ he said.

According to him, the participants should not see the graduation ceremony or their certificates acquired from the training as the end of the learning process.

“In fact, this is the beginning, you must continue to use every opportunity to improve on your current skill. So, over time, you would become sufficiently fluent to engage in conversations,’’ he said.

Brig.-Gen. Samuel Bitrus, NARC’s Director of Training, said the personnel went through an intensive one month learning skills in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages.

He, therefore, urged the graduating participants to once again build on the basics they had acquired, adding that being bi-lingual opened greater opportunities for the force.

Bitrus noted that the Nigerian Army was currently deployed for internal security operations across the country to enforce stability and peace.

“The troops while conducting these operations require understanding of the local languages of the host communities to enhance their capability.

“In recognition of the daunting task, the Chief of Army Staff (CAOS) approves the policy for officers and personnel to be trained in at least a Nigerian local language.

“ if the policy is replicated and sustained by other services and security agencies, it will enhance not only operational efficiency but improve national unity and integration,” Bitrus said.

The director of training, therefore, expressed delight in the overall performance of the participants, adding that most of them were fast learners.

The Chief Executive Officer of LACLIC Nigeria Ltd., Chief Ndubuisi Thierry, thanked the Nigerian Army for creating the enabling environment for its personnel to be trained jointly with NARC.

Ndubuisi said LACLIC Nigeria Ltd. and NARC had demonstrated further that civilians and the military could work together effectively without any rancour.

A total of 66 Nigerian Army personnel attended the course whom comprised 17 officers and 49 soldiers. (NAN)

– Aug. 24, 2018 @ 16:12 GMT |