The Nigerian Army has trained and deployed 174 troops to Guinea-Bissau as part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission (ESSMGB), aimed at enhancing peace and security in the West African country.
The personnel, designated as Nigerian Company 4, completed a rigorous five-week pre-deployment training programme at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) in Jaji, Kaduna State.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Monday, Major General Uwem Bassey, Chief of Operations (Army), commended the troops for their dedication and resilience. Represented by Maj.-Gen. Nansak Shagaya, he urged them to embody the core military values of courage, integrity, and professionalism throughout their mission.
“Nigeria has long been recognised globally for its commitment to peacekeeping in conflict zones such as Lebanon, Liberia, South Sudan, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau,” Bassey noted. “You are ambassadors of this legacy—ensure your conduct reflects our national values.”
He stressed the importance of discipline, impartiality, and cultural sensitivity, and reiterated a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), referencing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s call for accountability and ethical conduct.
The Centre’s Commandant, Maj.-Gen. Ademola Adedoja, also highlighted Nigeria’s enduring commitment to regional and global peace, revealing that over 100,000 peacekeepers have been trained at MLAILPKC since its inception.
“The troops before us have been equipped to handle the complexities of modern peace support operations,” he said. “Their training encompassed tactical readiness, leadership, and medical screening by the Nigerian Army Medical Corps.”
Adedoja acknowledged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for his strategic leadership, which he credited for maintaining the Centre’s status as a UN-accredited Centre of Excellence.
As the troops prepare to deploy, both military leaders emphasised that their success would be measured not just in operational outcomes but in their ability to win hearts and minds, earn the trust of host communities, and uphold Nigeria’s peacekeeping reputation.
