Islamic Affairs Directorate Enhancing Troops’ Emotional, Spiritual Resilience For Successful Operations

Islamic Affairs Directorate Enhancing Troops’ Emotional, Spiritual Resilience For Successful Operations

The Nigerian Army Directorate of Islamic Affairs (DOIA) has been charged with providing moral guidance and emotional and spiritual guidance for enhanced NA operations. This charge was given today, Monday, 28 October 2024, during the opening ceremony of DOIA Annual Training Week/Conference ABUJA 2024 at Command Officers Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.

Speaking on the theme: “Enhancing NA Personnel Effective Performance Through Authentic Islamic Teaching on Warrior Ethos Within a Joint Environment”, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja emphasized the importance of spiritual in combat operations, a role in which DOIA play a crucial part.

The COAS, represented by the Chief of Transformation and Innovation (Army), Major General Zakare Abubarkar, noted that by providing moral guidance and emotional support and fostering resilience, DOIA help troops process experiences and maintain mental and spiritual readiness, thereby enhancing overall effectiveness during operations.

The COAS acknowledged that a healthy and spiritually fulfilled soldier is more effective and resilient. He stressed the importance of DOIA’s spiritual leadership and advisory role in uplifting troops’ morale and equipping them with spiritual virtues.

Lieutenant General Lagbaja charged the DOIA to keep supporting the government efforts towards fighting insecurity and violent extremism using diverse methods to sustain the successes achieved by the NA in the fight against banditry and insurgency.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Islamic Affairs (NA), Brigadier General Usman Musa, stated that the theme aligns with the COAS ‘s command philosophy, which is “To Transform the NA Into a Well Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving Our Constitutional Responsibilities Within a Joint Environment”.

He added that deliberations on the selected topics will serve as a catalyst for the realistic efforts of the DOIA in playing its role of spiritual leadership and in imparting authentic Islamic teachings to troops.

The conference had in attendance His Royal Majesty the Emir of Bwari, represented by Captain Garba (rtd), Barden Bwari, Former Army Spokesman Brigadier General SK Usman , the representative of the Directors Chaplain Services, the Commandant of NA Schools of Islamic Affairs, Islamic Scholars, senior officers and soldiers, both serving and retired among others.