In a significant step toward bolstering peace and security across West Africa, the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) celebrated the graduation of 197 military personnel last Friday. These troops, having completed an intensive five-week pre-deployment training program, are set to join Nigeria’s 10th Contingent for the ECOWAS peacekeeping mission in The Gambia. Their mission? To help uphold political stability and foster social harmony in the host nation, a task that has become increasingly vital in the region.
At the graduation ceremony held at the MLAILPKC Parade Ground in Jaji Military Cantonment, the Army’s Chief of Operations, Major General Ishaya Maina, offered words of encouragement and caution. He reminded the graduating soldiers that they carry not just the flag of Nigeria, but the hopes of the entire African continent as ambassadors of peace. Professionalism and discipline, he emphasized, are non-negotiable.
General Maina was particularly stern about the consequences of misconduct. With a zero-tolerance policy in place, he made it clear that any behavior undermining the integrity of the mission, especially involving sexual exploitation or abuse, would be met with firm action.
Opening the ceremony, MLAILPKC Commandant Major General Ademola Adedoja shared insight into the rigorous training program, which officially commenced on May 17 and 18, 2025. Built around the United Nations Core Pre-deployment Training Manuals (CPTM), the course was tailored specifically for the operational demands of the Gambian mission.
General Adedoja detailed various components of the training, from medical screenings and counter-IED tactics to drone operations, convoy protection, GPS navigation, VIP escort procedures, and medical evacuations. The breadth of instruction, he noted, was designed to ensure that troops are not only prepared but also adaptable to the realities on the ground.
He expressed full confidence in the readiness of the contingent and commended their discipline throughout the program. He also acknowledged the dedication of the instructors and facilitators who made the training possible.
Special credit was given to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, whose support and resources helped bring the training to fruition.
The event was well attended by high-ranking military officers, representatives from defense institutions, training facilities, and other security agencies within Kaduna State, highlighting the importance of Nigeria’s ongoing role in regional peacekeeping under the ECOWAS framework.
