The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has applauded Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for his administration’s commitment to youth enlistment into the Nigerian Armed Forces and other paramilitary agencies.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede gave the commendation on Friday at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, when he received members of the Delta State Awareness Creation Committee on Youth Enlistment into Military and Paramilitary Services. He was represented at the event by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu.
According to the COAS, the number of recruits from Delta has significantly increased since Oborevwori assumed office. He attributed the feat to the Governor’s “visionary and pragmatic leadership,” particularly the establishment of a special committee dedicated to youth enlistment awareness across the state.
“Delta has made steady progress in maximizing its quota during recruitment exercises,” Oluyede said, assuring that the Army would continue to provide a level playing ground for all applicants. He urged the committee not to relent in mobilizing eligible youths to take advantage of ongoing and future opportunities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Chairman of the Committee, Barr. ThankGod Trakiriowei Harry, explained that the visit was to update the Army leadership on the committee’s activities and to formally introduce its members.
He disclosed that the state successfully met its quota in the last Army Regular Recruits Intake and is poised to repeat the feat in the 90th Intake scheduled to commence on September 30, 2025.
Supporting the briefing, the Director General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, highlighted the committee’s engagements with traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, local government councils, and grassroots campaigns, which have significantly boosted enlistment figures.
Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Political and Security Services, Mr. Theophilus Chukwudi Aguonye, who delivered the vote of thanks, praised Oluyede’s leadership of the Nigerian Army and acknowledged the support of Major General Fejokwu in facilitating the committee’s Abuja visit.
The delegation included Barr. Trakiriowei Harry, Dr. Oghenesivbe, Dr. Ngozi Mogbolu (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development), Rev. Cyril Okonye (CAN representative), Chief Alfred Origbo (Executive Secretary, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council), and Mr. Emmanuel Egodo (Directorate of Political and Security Services).
Following the Abuja engagement, the delegation proceeded to Kaduna to join in the celebrations at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), where 24 Delta-born cadets of the 72 Regular Course were commissioned as officers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
