The monarch made the call during an engagement between the Nigerian Army sensitisation team, traditional rulers, community leaders and youths at the Olowu Palace, Oke-Ago Owu, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Describing the period as a “time of planting,” Oba Adediran said traditional institutions had an important role to play in guiding young people towards opportunities capable of positively shaping their future.
“I want to appeal to others, particularly the Baales, to inform our children to join the Army,” the monarch said.
He also urged Baales in their respective communities to identify eligible candidates and refer them to the traditional institution for assistance where necessary.
Speaking earlier, the team leader of the Army Headquarters Sensitisation Campaign, Brigadier General Olusegun Opeyemi Okenbure, said the exercise was organised to improve Ogun State’s participation in the Nigerian Army recruitment process.
According to him, the state had previously failed to meet its expected quota of applicants and successful candidates, prompting the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, to direct an intensified sensitisation campaign across the state.
Opeyemi said the Army leadership was optimistic that greater awareness at the grassroots would increase the number of qualified Ogun indigenes applying for the 92 Regular Recruit Intake.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, deemed it fit to intensify this sensitisation exercise so that this year, hopefully, and I know and I’m confident, with this engagement that we’re having now, would boost the number of applicants and those that will be subsequently selected to join this noble profession of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
He disclosed that online registration for the 92 Regular Recruitment Intake commenced on September 9 and would close on October 21, urging eligible Nigerians, particularly youths in Ogun State, to complete their applications before the deadline.
The Army officer explained that the recruitment was open to both non-tradesmen and tradesmen, stressing that skilled applicants such as electricians, carpenters, drivers, technicians, engineers and medical personnel could also apply.
He said non-tradesmen and women must be between 18 and 22 years of age, while tradesmen could apply between the ages of 18 and 26.
Opeyemi listed other requirements as Nigerian citizenship, a National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), no criminal conviction and at least four passes, including English Language, in relevant secondary school examinations obtained in not more than two sittings.
He added that applicants must possess valid birth certificates and certificates of state of origin, stressing that candidates should apply with their state of origin rather than their state of residence.
On physical requirements, Opeyemi said male applicants must be at least 1.68 metres tall, while female applicants must be at least 1.65 metres.
He, however, acknowledged concerns over the height requirement and assured the traditional rulers that the feedback would be communicated to Army Headquarters.
“Kabiyesi sir, I know last year, I think one of the complaints was the height requirement. This is already being looked into and I’m sure it will receive favourable response. We, on our own part as a team, will take this feedback to Army Headquarters,” he said.
The Brigadier General also highlighted the benefits of military service, including job security, regular salaries and allowances, medical services, pension and gratuity, specialised training, educational opportunities and scholarships.
According to him, serving personnel could also benefit from local and overseas training as well as sponsored academic programmes.
He stressed that beyond the material benefits, military service offered young Nigerians an opportunity to contribute to national defence and unity.
“One of the greatest benefits of serving in the military, Nigerian Army in particular, is not getting job security—that is guaranteed. But one of the benefits, in fact, the foremost, is to be among men and women that can sacrifice and defend the nation and its people, Nigeria in general, anywhere in the world, both locally or overseas,” Opeyemi stated.
He further noted that military service promotes social integration by enabling personnel from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to live and work together in different parts of the country.
The Army team consequently called on traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders to take the recruitment message to the grassroots and assist qualified youths in accessing the opportunity before the October 21 deadline.
