Ilo Pushes Inter-Service, Private Sector Partnerships as NAFRC Deepens Resettlement, Skills Agenda
The Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Air Vice Marshal Nnaemeka Ignatius Ilo, has intensified efforts to strengthen inter-service synergy and civil–military collaboration, as the Centre explores expanded partnerships with sister military formations, leading private sector organisations and research institutions to advance resettlement and vocational training for retiring service personnel.
AVM Ilo received a delegation from the Naval Doctrine Command (NAVDOC), led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Bobmanuel Kokoete Effiong, in a visit aimed at deepening inter-service cooperation and identifying areas of mutual benefit. Rear Admiral Effiong underscored the strategic importance of doctrine in guiding naval operations and improving effectiveness across the fleet, noting ongoing reforms to strengthen NAVDOC’s mandate.
Responding, the NAFRC Commandant stressed the critical role of standardised doctrine across the Armed Forces and outlined NAFRC’s core responsibility in vocational, entrepreneurial and resettlement training. He assured the delegation of the Centre’s readiness to collaborate with NAVDOC in support of broader Armed Forces objectives.
In a related engagement to consolidate inter-service relations, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha (mni), also paid a courtesy visit to AVM Ilo. The FOC said the visit was in line with the tradition of sustained engagement among sister formations to enhance operational understanding and synergy. He highlighted WNC’s responsibilities in the western maritime corridor and his role as Commander, Joint Task Force Operation AWATSE, expressing interest in practical areas of cooperation with NAFRC.
AVM Ilo welcomed the initiative, reiterating NAFRC’s mandate to prepare disengaging personnel for productive post-service life through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship, while pledging continued collaboration with the Navy.
Beyond inter-service engagements, the NAFRC Commandant has also taken his familiarisation and partnership drive to the private sector. During a courtesy visit to Mouka Limited, AVM Ilo commended the company for its sustained support to NAFRC over the years and called for deeper collaboration, particularly in providing employment opportunities for trained and retiring military personnel. Mouka Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Femi Fapohunda, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the partnership and pledged continued support for NAFRC’s resettlement objectives.
In the same vein, AVM Ilo visited Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group to reinforce existing ties and explore new areas of cooperation. The Group Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Savara, and members of the executive management acknowledged TGI’s long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces and expressed readiness to expand collaboration, especially in absorbing skilled retired personnel into the company’s workforce. AVM Ilo, in turn, appreciated the group’s consistent support and urged sustained engagement in support of military disengagement and reintegration efforts.
The partnership drive also extended to the research and innovation ecosystem, as the NAFRC Commandant paid a familiarisation visit to the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO). The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jummai Adamu Tutuwa, received the delegation and highlighted the institute’s long-standing relationship with NAFRC, particularly in security cooperation and capacity development. She expressed FIIRO’s willingness to deepen collaboration across its industrial research programmes.
AVM Ilo described the partnership with FIIRO as mutually beneficial, commending the institute’s growth and international footprint, which he attributed to strong leadership and institutional values. He assured the management of NAFRC’s commitment to identifying additional areas of cooperation, noting that FIIRO’s vast research capabilities align with the Centre’s vocational and skills-development objectives.
Collectively, the engagements underscore NAFRC’s renewed push under AVM Ilo to build strong inter-service, private sector and institutional partnerships as a strategic pathway to enhancing resettlement outcomes, promoting self-reliance and ensuring a smooth transition for military personnel into civilian life.
