ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM Chartered) has expressed its interest in establishing a collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, with a focus on enhancing the managerial competencies of naval officers. This initiative was brought to light during a courtesy visit by the NIM President, Dr. Christiana Atako, to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, in Abuja.
Represented by Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (Rtd.), the Deputy President of NIM, Dr. Atako stressed the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing NIM’s commitment to building the capacity of personnel in critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy. She urged the Nigerian Navy to engage with NIM’s various capacity-building programs, including the Intensive Training for Membership Admission (ITMA) and the Mandatory Continuing Professional Education Programme (MCPEP), among others.
Furthermore, NIM has proposed the organization of retirement training programs tailored to retiring men and officers of the Nigerian Navy. Dr. Atako identified a critical challenge faced by many retirees: the difficulty of articulating a clear path toward economic survival after the cessation of monthly salaries.
“Even when most of them receive their gratuities, they are unable to identify business opportunities, and when they do, they often lack the deep vertical knowledge necessary for business success,” Dr. Atako stated. “The retirement training will expose the retirees to all aspects of business success, from identifying opportunities in the environment and initiating ventures to business plan development and eventual fruition.”
In addition to the business-oriented retirement training, NIM is proposing Attitudinal Change Training for retiring officers. This specialized training program aims to facilitate the transition of retirees from military to civilian life, ensuring a smooth and seamless reintegration into society.
Dr. Atako elaborated, saying, “We are specifically requesting to meet with Navy representatives to identify the training needs of the Nigerian Navy, especially in the areas of management and leadership. Our objective is to design training programs that will effectively address and bridge the identified gaps in these areas.”
In response to this proposal, Rear Admiral Baba Inna, representing the Chief of the Naval Staff, assured NIM of the Navy’s commitment to exploring and considering these proposals for further action.
This potential collaboration between the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigerian Navy holds the promise of strengthening the skills and competencies of naval officers, ultimately benefiting the nation’s security and economic well-being.
