The Rivers State Government has urged youths across the state to take advantage of the ongoing Nigerian Army recruitment exercise to build careers in the military and contribute to national development.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo Wokoma, made the call during an interactive meeting between representatives of the Nigerian Army, traditional rulers and youth leaders from the 23 local government areas of the state on Friday.
Wokoma said joining the military offered young people opportunities to acquire valuable skills, advance their education and prepare for positions of greater responsibility.
He noted that the future strength and effectiveness of the military depended largely on the quality of young men and women recruited into its ranks.
“Today’s recruits and junior officers are the senior commanders and leaders of tomorrow. Young people who join the military have the opportunity to build impactful careers that positively affect their families, communities and the nation,” he said.
Also speaking, the leader of the sensitisation team from the Army Headquarters, Abuja, Brigadier-General B. U. Ugbaji, urged Rivers youths to participate in the recruitment exercise and contribute to the development of the country.
Ugbaji said President Bola Tinubu had mandated the recruitment of 28,000 personnel, stressing the need for eligible youths in Rivers State to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure that the state’s recruitment quota was fully utilised.
He expressed concern over the declining representation of the region in the military, warning that failure to participate in the exercise could further reduce its presence in the institution.
“As important as other vocations are, it is important that we take our place in the affairs of the state. The quota from this region is reducing. In the future, we may not have representatives,” he stated.
The Army officer urged interested candidates to meet the required qualifications and apply for the ongoing 92 Regular Recruit Intake for tradesmen and non-tradesmen and women.
He added that the military offered opportunities for educational advancement and career progression to personnel who joined its ranks.
Responding on behalf of traditional rulers, the Gbenemene and Kasimene of Ancient Bangh Kingdom VIII, HRM King Suanu T. U. Baridam, pledged that monarchs would return to their respective communities to sensitise youths about the recruitment exercise.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for youth representatives from the 23 local government areas to seek clarification on the recruitment process.
The online application for the exercise closes on October 21, 2026, while interested candidates have been advised to apply through the Nigerian Army’s official recruitment portal, recruitment.army.mil.ng.
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