A total 336 personnel, drawn from the Army, Navy and the Airforce, were on Friday retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The soldiers retired after their mandatory 35 years in service.
The Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS), General Leo Irabor, while admonishing the retirees at a ceremony held on Friday at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, urged the retirees to be wary of the freedom and challenges that come with post-service life.
Irabor, represented by the Chief Of Operations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Okon Eyo, made the call at the Passing Out Ceremony of the Trainees Course 01/202.
The event took place at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) Oshodi, Lagos State.
Some of the graduand trainees of the Course 01/2021 which held at NAFRC, Lagos State.
A total of 346 graduating trainees of Course 01/2021 successfully completed the entire requirement for the award of their certificate.
They were trained in auto mechanic, soaps and cosmetics making, fine arts, photography, metal works, music, barbing and hairdressing, agricultural management among other courses.
“This may sound exciting and promising but beware, you need to properly manage your freedom in order to be successful.
“The society will expect a high moral standard and discipline from you.
“You will also have to prove in your relationships that you passed through a highly disciplined system as our well-grounded ambassadors.
“I believe you are all capable of excelling in your various endeavours and will positively influence your environment for the economic development of our dear country,” he said.
Irabor said that it was equally necessary to inform all discharged colleagues that post service life had its peculiar challenges.
“Some of these challenges are management of resources, especially your retirement benefits, influences from friends and family members, management of both mental and physical health and integrating with the civil society.
“Therefore, I urge you to be proactive in your conduct in other to overcome these challenges.
“You must appreciate that it is risky for you to embark on a new lifestyle that is above your means or engage in non-lucrative ventures that is beyond your means,” the CDS said.