TECHNOLOGY FOR ARMY

THE new Commander, Corps of Engineers of Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), Maj. Gen. Funsho Owonibi has promised innovations and technology- driven acts in the corps, which would aid in repositioning itself to confront the challenges of the future and also contribute to national development. Speaking at the handing and taking over ceremony at the Headquarters, Nigerian Army Engineers, Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Lagos, Owonibi said that innovative spirit and the spirit of enquiry would be strengthened under his command. According to him, “No organization can make meaningful progress in this knowledge-driven world without utilizing modern technology. “The corps will in the next era have to embrace technology, promote research and development and encourage innovation. “The pursuit of research and development will also deliver usable products that will contribute to knowledge and industry.” Continuing, he said: “We must, therefore, strengthen the capacity of personnel through requisite knowledge and competencies, adopting global best practices in project execution, adapt technology while exploring the fertile minds of all sappers to contribute to national development. “With this approach, the NAE will reaffirm its leadership position as a professional corps and reposition itself to confront the challenges of the future.’ According to him, “the human resource remains the main key to achieving organizational goals. In this regard, the Corps will continue to build and develop the skills and core competencies of our personnel through comprehensive training and re-training as well as operational experience. “To this end,” he continued, there would be an introduction of new courses and review of the curriculum of existing courses. There will also be opportunity for sappers to have placement for industrial attachment training. The idea will be to have NAE adequately acquire new artisan skills required in the industry thus improving our capacity to handle diverse projects. GUARDIAN