On Friday, June 2, 2023, the five-day Operational Level Logistics in Economy of West African States (ECOWAS) Peace Support Operations Training will have been concluded by the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) and ECOWAS. The Ogomudia Hall at the NACOLM Annex Campus Moloney in Lagos served as the venue for the event.
The inaugural edition of the Training on Operational Level Logistics in ECOWAS Peace Support Operations for Personnel of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) was concluded with a graduation ceremony, which was opened by the Commandant NACOLM Major General Adekunle Adeyinka. He continued by saying that among other criteria, the achievement of the mission, the cessation of hostilities, and improvements to the status quo have all been used to assess the effectiveness of peace support operations (PSOs).
He added that the previous five days had been both challenging and exciting, and that the participants had shown a genuine interest in the operating processes for standardizing and streamlining the delivery of logistics assistance in ECOWAS PSOs. Participants were familiar with the ESF Logistics Concept and System, he added. Planning issues for supply sources, health support services, contingent own equipment (COE), and humanitarian logistics are other areas.
General Adeyinka reassured the audience that he is certain the participants have learned the necessary skills to develop and carry out successful support plans for the deployment and maintenance of all PSO components. Therefore, he expresses his gratitude to the resource people for their passion, devotion, and significant contribution, all of which led to the success of this training.
The conduct of PSOs is intended to stabilize conflict zones, separate warring parties, protect civilians, and aid in the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former combatants, according to Special Guest of Honor and Corps Commander Supply and Transport (CCST), Major General Erema Akerejola, who declared the training to be completed.
General Akerejola said in his remarks that the PSOs are also to support electoral organization, preserve and promote human rights, and help restore the rule of law. He continued, “Over the years, it has been realized that the quality of logistical support available to that mission is essentially predicated on the successful attainment of the mandate of most PSOs.”
Speaking earlier, Mr. Danjuma Aku, who was the ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, said that participants from the military, police, and civilian components of a typical PSO were present for the training, which aimed to improve participants’ knowledge of ECOWAS logistics in PSOs and impart skills that would be helpful when deployed in an ECOWAS PSO.
He emphasized that the goal of the training was to get them ready to work effectively in operational positions both while they were on a PSOs deployment and once they returned to their home countries. As a result, he exhorted the graduates to use the information they have learned over the previous several days to improve their diverse work situations.
Additionally, Mr. Danjuma acknowledged the appreciation of the ECOWAS Commission to the NACOLM personnel for their persistent efforts in making the Course a reality and creating a supportive learning environment.
NACOLM partners, commandants of the Nigerian Army Corps Schools in Lagos, renowned experts, and students from the Logistics Staff Course 20/23 were among those in attendance at the event.
