NiDCOM, DHQ to partner on Diaspora national security conference — Brig,-Gen Nwachukwu
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has solicited a partnership with the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) towards the hosting of its forthcoming Diaspora Conference on National Security.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said in a statemeny that the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, sought the partnership when she visited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, on Friday.
Dabiri-Erewa stated that Nigerians abroad, working in the defence and security sector, intended to leverage on the conference to contribute their quota in addressing the security challenges facing the nation.
She said that these Nigerians, who were excelling in the defence and security sector, would want to leverage on the conference’s roundtable discussion to share their expertise with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security stakeholders.
Similarly, the AFN could also use the platform to showcase their operational successes, while sensitising Nigerians at home and abroad on issues regarding Nigeria’s security.
She further disclosed that the DHQ could also collaborate with these security experts in training military personnel and provision of logistics support for the services.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the AFN had continued to receive encomiums for their participation and exploits in peace keeping support operations across the globe.
She commended the military for promoting gender inclusiveness, while advocating for more enlistment of women into the military.
Responding, the Chief of Defence staff assured that the DHQ would be ready to partner with the commission and Nigerians in the Diaspora, to add value to the national security disposition.
Irabor said the proposed conference would be a meeting of like-minds as conversations across the borders would be useful at this critical stage.
He added that the conference was timely and apt, considering the ongoing reforms in the AFN occasioned by the recent changes to its leadership hierarchy.
The CDS maintained that the military would continue to promote and prioritise the active involvement of female personnel in its operations, administration and other activities.
He added that the military could boast of several senior female officers, both serving and retired, adding that some had even reached the zenith of their careers, by attaining the ranks of two-star generals.
