Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Nigerian Army (NA), reaffirmed the army’s dedication to harnessing research, development, and innovation to bolster operational efficiency.
His remarks came during a seminar on Research Development and Innovation organized by the Army Headquarters, Department of Transformation and Innovation, held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Under the theme “Research Development and Innovation in the Military: Strategic Options for NA Operational Effectiveness,” Gen. Lagbaja underscored the pivotal role of cutting-edge technology and creative solutions in navigating contemporary global security challenges.
Highlighting the NA’s strides in research, development, and innovation, Gen. Lagbaja emphasized advancements in addressing procurement, inventory management, and personnel optimization amid ongoing counterterrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other security operations.
Gen. Lagbaja stressed the necessity for the NA to remain at the forefront of modern warfare, continuously adapting and innovating to effectively tackle evolving security threats and adversarial terrains.
He reiterated the seminar’s alignment with his Command Philosophy, emphasizing the ongoing investment in research and development to formulate superior strategies, tactics, and procedures.
Assuring sustained dedication, Gen. Lagbaja affirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to elevate operational efficiency through research, development, and innovation.
Earlier, Major General Zakari Abubakar, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (COTI), elucidated the seminar’s objectives, highlighting its synergy with the COAS Command Philosophy pillars of leadership, operational effectiveness, and efficient administration.
He underscored research, development, and innovation as fundamental catalysts for operational readiness, essential for maintaining the NA’s superiority over adversaries.
The seminar comprised lectures and presentations by esteemed experts, fostering dynamic interactive sessions aimed at harnessing insights from the military, academia, and industry to bolster NA’s operational efficiency through research, development, and innovation.
Distinguished participants included representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Army Ministry of Defence, Defense and Services Headquarters, NA institutions, as well as key stakeholders from academia and industry.
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