Translate Training into Victory” — COAS Charges Restore Hope IX Graduates on Combat Excellence

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged officers and soldiers graduating from Exercise Restore Hope IX to convert their intensive training into decisive operational victories as they deploy across various theatres to confront Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. 

The Army Chief gave the charge at the Final Exercise and Graduation Ceremony held at the Nigerian Army Training Camp, Kachia, Kaduna State, on Friday, 23 January 2026.

Lieutenant General Shaibu stressed that combat excellence, discipline, adaptability and teamwork remain indispensable requirements for success in modern warfare, particularly within today’s complex and asymmetric operational environment.

He described Exercise Restore Hope as a key pillar of the Nigerian Army’s transformation agenda, aimed at building a professional, resilient and mission-oriented force capable of operating effectively in joint and multi-agency settings.

According to him, the advanced infantry training exposed participants to enhanced marksmanship, physical endurance, combat medical proficiency, and the mental resilience required for sustained high-tempo operations.

The COAS further emphasised that battlefield success must be firmly rooted in professionalism, respect for human rights and accountability, noting that ethical conduct is critical to sustaining public trust and operational legitimacy.

He commended the instructors and training formations for upholding high professional standards, adding that graduates of previous editions of Exercise Restore Hope have consistently distinguished themselves across various operational theatres nationwide.

Earlier, the Chief of Training (Army), Major General V. U. Okoro, explained that the exercise—now in its ninth series—remains one of the Nigerian Army’s most important post-basic training platforms, designed to sharpen combat skills, build resilience and prepare troops for contemporary operational realities.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the COAS formally declared Exercise Restore Hope IX closed, congratulated the graduating officers and soldiers, and approved the immediate promotion and decoration of seven soldiers who distinguished themselves as instructors during the exercise.