The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Joint Task Force (South East) Operation UDO KA II, Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada, has emphasized the importance of vigilance among the graduating students of Exercise Shining Star IV. Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at 82 Division Training School Exercise area, Abakpa Cantonment, Enugu, Major General Dada addressed the security threats within the Division’s Area of Responsibility.
In a statement released by Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Unuakhalu, Major General Dada commended the participants for their dedication and discipline throughout the training. He acknowledged the valuable skills acquired from the school, enabling them to carry out their duties as proficient soldiers.
General Dada expressed his appreciation to Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), for granting approval for the exercise to take place within the Division. This approval ensures that troops can fulfill their constitutional responsibilities professionally, following global best practices. Moreover, he thanked the Chief of Army Staff for his unwavering support to Headquarters 82 Division.
In recognition of the successful conduct of the training, General Dada applauded Brigadier General Okhume Ejere, the Division Training Officer, and the instructors of 82 Division Training School. He encouraged the participants, particularly those inducted in various ongoing operations, to remain dedicated in their duties.
Furthermore, General Dada stressed the significance of discipline and loyalty to constituted authorities as fundamental elements of professionalism. These principles align with the COAS command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a well-trained, equipped, and highly motivated force capable of fulfilling their conditional responsibility within a joint environment.
Brigadier General Okhume Ejere, the Divisional Training Officer, expressed his gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for the approval to conduct the “Shining Star” training exercise in 2023. Participants were selected from different formations within the 82 Division Area of Responsibility, including 13 and 14 Brigades, 82 Division Garrison, and 103 Battalion.
Brigadier General Ejere highlighted the practical nature of Exercise Shining Star, which provided a unified platform for post-basic training for young soldiers across Nigerian Army formations. The training focused on field exercises, endurance run/walk with varied weight loads, and realistic battle-focused scenarios to improve soldiers’ ability to operate effectively in teams under actual command and control.
