No fewer than 286 officers of the Nigerian Army are taking part in the 2023 Captain to Major practical examination to test the proficiency of officers for higher responsibilities.

Addressing candidates and officers in Abeokuta on Sunday, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe said officers would be assessed accordingly during the examination.

Aligbe added that the candidates would be assessed in the areas of mental and physical fitness, communication, and logical reasoning, among others.

He urged them to approach the examination with all sincerity of purpose, saying that cheating and other examination malpractices would not be allowed.

He said that the examination remained necessary, especially in the face of the current security challenges facing the country.

He explained that the current global security challenges, especially terrorism and insurgency, had continued to be of great concern to relevant authorities, and no stone would be left unturned to combat the challenge frontally.

He noted that the examination would be based on the global challenge of terrorism and insurgency, effective communication, logical reasoning, and map reading, among others

Aligbe added that to be qualified and promoted from the current rank of Captain to Major, officers must score 50 per cent in all subjects and 60 per cent overall aggregate.

“This practical promotion examination from Captain to Major for these 286 officers across the country and beyond is to evaluate their proficiency for higher responsibilities, manpower development, especially in counter-terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen Muhammed Usman,
explained that the relevance of the examination towards building capacity for junior leadership to achieve national security objectives could not be over-emphasised.

He noted that the examination was meant to broaden the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various aspects of military operations with an emphasis on Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Operations.

“We are all aware that this examination aims to evaluate the proficiency of this category of officers and develop their junior leadership capabilities for higher responsibilities in the Nigerian Army.

“I would like to state that your performance in the examination is a key determinant of progress in your career and it is important you all put in seriousness and determination to excel,” he said.