Army Urges South-East Youths to Join Military, Debunks Discrimination Fears
The Nigerian Army has called on youths in Abia State and other South-East states to heed the national call to service by joining the military, emphasizing abundant career opportunities and debunking myths about discrimination.
The appeal came Thursday during the inaugural awareness campaign organized by the Nigerian Army's Department of Civil-Military Affairs. The event targeted youths, traditional rulers, and civil society groups in Umuahia.
Guest speaker Maj. Gen. Gold Chibuisi (Rtd) delivered a keynote lecture, urging South-East youths to embrace Army careers in medicine, law, engineering, and more. He dismissed fears of Igbo soldiers being profiled or disproportionately sent to dangerous fronts, assuring fair promotions and welfare. "Parents should encourage their children to enlist," he said.
Maj. Gen. Chukwunedum Abraham (Rtd) highlighted stark recruitment disparities from the last drive: Imo State had only 671 applicants, Ebonyi 428—figures he called alarmingly low compared to other zones.
Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, explained the campaign aimed to spotlight Army opportunities and dispel misconceptions.
The Governor of Abia State, Gov. Alex Otti echoed the call, lamenting his state's historically low applications. He pledged his administration's support to boost enrollment through such initiatives, vowing Abia would not lag behind.