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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has praised Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for his administration’s sustained efforts to encourage youth participation in military and paramilitary enlistment exercises.

Oluyede gave the commendation on Friday, September 26, 2025 in Abuja while receiving members of the Delta State Awareness Creation Committee on Youth Enlistment into Military and Paramilitary Services on a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters.

Represented by the Chief of Administration, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, the Army Chief noted a marked increase in the number of applicants and successful recruits from Delta State since Oborevwori assumed office. He attributed the development to the state government’s policies aimed at ensuring Delta fully utilises its recruitment quota.

“The number of recruits from Delta is encouraging, especially under the leadership of Governor Oborevwori,” Oluyede said. “It is heartwarming that our engagement with the state on recruitment is yielding results. I urge the committee to sustain the momentum.”

The COAS also commended the state government for setting up a dedicated committee to drive awareness, describing the move as a strategic step that has boosted participation among young people. He encouraged the committee to continue mobilising eligible youths for recruitment exercises, assuring that the Army would maintain a transparent selection process.

Earlier, Commissioner for Youth Development and Chairman of the Committee, Barr. ThankGod Trakiriowei Harry, said the visit was to brief the Army leadership on the committee’s activities and formally introduce its members, as directed by the governor.

He said the committee, supervised by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Eze Emu, had helped Delta meet its recruitment quota in the last Army regular intake and expressed confidence that the state would replicate the feat in the 90th Regular Recruits exercise, which begins on September 30, 2025.

Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the committee’s sensitisation campaigns — which included engagements with youth groups, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, local government councils, and the media — had contributed significantly to the improved enlistment figures.

In a vote of thanks, Permanent Secretary of the Directorate of Political and Security Services, Mr. Theophilus Chukwudi Aguonye, commended the COAS for his leadership and support for national security efforts. He also expressed appreciation for the hospitality shown to the committee during the visit.

The delegation included Trakiriowei Harry, Oghenesivbe, Dr. Ngozi Mogbolu (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development), Rev. Cyril Okonye (Christian Association of Nigeria), Chief Alfred Origbo (Delta State Traditional Rulers Council), and Mr. Emmanuel Egodo (Directorate of Political and Security Services).

Following the meeting in Abuja, the delegation proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna to celebrate with 24 cadets of Delta origin during the Passing Out Parade of the 72 Regular Course and their commissioning as officers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.