Source: The Nigerian Observer
President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the immediate enlistment and training of female regular combatant commission officers into the Nigerian armed forces.

Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, who disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, told newsmen that the presidential directive was given to provide female officers the same opportunity of rising to the pinnacle of their profession.

He explained that it was only the Regular Combatant Commission that could give an officer the opportunity to aspire to head any of the services or rise to become the Chief of Defence Staff.

The minister said application forms can be filled on-line and will be open to females from Monday February 14 to February 28, 2011.

Kayode encouraged qualified female candidates who are between the ages of 18 to 21 to apply.
Kayode said the training of female cadets as directed by the president, along with their male counterparts, would be at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

“With this directive, history is being made as it has never happened before in the annals of the Nigerian military.

“Though we have women technicians, medical personnel, even paratroopers and tank drivers and commissioned women in various services, the armed forces have never had women as regular combatant officers,“ he said.

The minister also received the EU delegation in his office yesterday where the Leader of the delegation, Mr. Pierre-Micheal Joana told him that the delegation was soliciting for partnership between the EU and Nigeria in the area of peace and security.

According to Joana, the partnership is necessary as the EU begins its second phase on peace and security.

 

• Nigeria