More than 286 officers from the Nigerian Army are taking part in the 2023 Captain to Major practical examination, which is designed to assess their competency for senior roles.
The Commander of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, addressed the officers and candidates in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria, on Sunday. He informed them that the examination would evaluate their physical and mental fitness, communication skills, and logical reasoning abilities, among other areas.
Major General Aligbe urged the participants to approach the examination with complete sincerity, emphasizing that cheating and other malpractices will not be tolerated. He stated that the review is crucial, particularly in light of the present security challenges confronting the country.
He explained that the current challenges to global security, especially terrorism and insurgency, had remained a matter of grave concern to the relevant authorities and that no stone would be left unturned to combat the challenge head-on.
He noted that the exam will be based on the global challenge of terrorism and insurgency, effective communication, logical reasoning, and map reading, among others.
Aligbe added that to qualify and be promoted from the current rank of Captain to Major, officers must score 50 percent in all subjects and 60 percent in total.
“This practical promotion examination from Captain to Major for these 286 officers across the country and beyond is aimed at assessing their competency for higher responsibilities and personnel development, especially in counter-terrorism and insurgency,” he said.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Muhammed Usman, also a Major General, explained that the relevance of the examination in developing the capacity of junior leaders to achieve national security objectives could not be overemphasized. .
He noted that the exam was aimed at expanding the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various aspects of military operations with emphasis on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
“We are all aware that the objective of this examination is to assess the competency of this category of officers and develop their junior leadership capabilities for senior responsibilities in the Nigerian Army.
“I would like to state that your performance in the exam is a key determinant of your career progress and it is important for everyone to put in seriousness and determination to excel,” he said.