KADUNA – Retired Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche, has urged recruits of 90 Regular Intake of the Nigerian Army to embrace warrior ethos and mental toughness to confront emerging security challenges effectively.
Ofoche made the call on Tuesday in at a seminar on ”Intensifying Warrior Ethos and Mental Toughness” for the recruits at the Depot Nigerian Army, Emasiri-Edda, Jaji, Kaduna State.
Reports that the seminar was organised by the Army Headquarters Department of Army Transformation and Innovation.
It has as theme ”Warriors Ethos, a Tool for Building Unit Cohesion and a Combat-ready Force.
Ofoche the lead resource person at the seminar said that the military profession existed primarily to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and safeguard national interests against internal and external threats.
He noted that insurgency, banditry, terrorism and other asymmetric threats had increased demands on soldiers operating in complex security environments.
According to him, strengthening warrior ethos remains essential to improving readiness, professionalism and fighting spirit among troops.
He described warrior ethos as a combination of internal conviction and external behaviour rooted in courage, discipline, perseverance, loyalty and self-sacrifice.
Ofoche added that effective warriors were shaped through training, discipline, mentorship and experience, alongside natural abilities and personal determination.
He said that warrior ethos was not blind aggression but a professional code built on honour, duty, resilience and strategic thinking.
Drawing lessons from the United States and Japan, he said successful militaries deliberately cultivated values that promoted mission accomplishment and battlefield effectiveness.
He highlighted the Nigerian Army’s SHIELD values of Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, Endurance, Loyalty and Discipline as pillars of military professionalism.
The retired general urged soldiers to place national interest above personal considerations and remain committed to defending the country at all times.
He encouraged troops to uphold the creed of putting the mission first, never accepting defeat, never quitting and never leaving a comrade behind.
Earlier, the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Amasiri-Edda, Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Ahmadu, said warrior ethos and mental toughness remained critical to producing combat-ready soldiers.
Ahmadu, represented by Col. Tajudeen Lamidi, Chief Instructor, Training Branch, said the seminar was aimed at strengthening soldiers’ resilience and operational effectiveness.
He described the programme as more than an academic exercise, stressing that it focused on survival, victory and preparing soldiers for modern battlefield realities.
According to him, warrior ethos is founded on four principles: placing the mission first, never accepting defeat, never quitting, and never leaving a fallen comrade behind.
The commandant said that the principles must guide soldiers during difficult combat situations when fear, exhaustion and uncertainty threaten mission success.
He explained that mental toughness served as an internal armour that enables soldiers to withstand fear, doubt, fatigue and other battlefield pressures.
Ahmadu noted that a resilient mind helped soldiers remain focused, make sound decisions and continue leading effectively under intense conditions.
He urged the recruits to embrace teamwork and comradeship, reminding them that military operations succeeded through collective effort and mutual trust.
The commandant also reiterated the Nigerian Army’s core values of loyalty, selfless service, courage, discipline, integrity and respect for others.
He said those values could only be sustained through a strong warrior spirit and the mental toughness required to uphold them under stress.
Ahmadu commended the resource persons for supporting the army’s efforts to build a professional and resilient force.
He urged the facilitators to share practical lessons on combat realities, overcoming fear and developing the mindset required for success in military operations.(NAN)
