The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, is a training institution for the country's armed forces and civilian personnel. Abiodun Awolaja, himself a senior member of its field arm, Man O' War Nigeria, looks at the ways in which the centre can be utilised for greater national relevance and security.THE Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, was backed by an ordinance published in the extra-ordinary Gazette No 45 of August 10, 1960 and modified by Decree No 38 of December, 1989. Man O' War Nigeria, its field arm, is a Federal Government establishment which is different from the Man O ' War Association of Nigeria (MOWAN), a controversial NGO which is currently being rocked by a leadership tussle between two claimants to its Commander-General title, Chief Adewole Bassey Ese and Mr Gbenga Oloba.Indeed, many Nigerians, who are not very familiar with the paramilitary agency, have been led to believe that Man' O War Nigeria is at war within itself. Such Nigerians would not know, for instance, that there is no such rank as a Commander-General in Man' O War Nigeria, a very senior paramilitary agency which was birthed in the country in 1951, and which has Colonel Sam A. Ayough as its current National Commander; Hon. Ekure O. Felix, Deputy National Commander; Com. James Ujor, National Secretary General; Habu Musa, Assistant National Secretary General, among others.The centre's operations are based on the following guiding principles: superior standard and an extensive range of first-class guest services; direct dramatic experiences in new surroundings to help those taking part discover their strength, build their confidence and re-examine their ideals and values; personal development using social challenges, the mountain, the jungles, and the sea as means of personal growth; adaptability, self discipline, resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of challenges and uncertainty; active participation in the setting up of a supportive residential community. In addition, it encourages participants in any of its courses to cooperate with other participants, to give service to and to accept responsibility for others; stimulate the imagination and sense of adventure and foster true appreciation and concern for the environment, while placing emphasis on practical work in small group, with adequate time for reflection, discussion and critical appraisal.In meeting the goal of building the youth and achieving greater spread, the CLTC has achieved fame via its schools which are situated across the six geopolitical zones of the country, namely the Sea School, Apapa, Lagos; Shere Hill, Jos; Forest School, Port Harcourt; Dessert School, Zamfara; Hilltop School, Awgu, Kotorkoshi Rockland and Women Unit, Delta, where the business of training members of the public the ethics of citizenship and leadership is an overriding goal. Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, the State Security Service (SSS), Customs, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), students in tertiary institutions, among other categories of participants, are frequently at any of the six training institutions, particularly the Sea School, while in training as officers and men of the various bodies.There is no soldier in the country's army who has not been to Shere Hills, Jos. In the CLTC mountain school, deep in the heart of Shere Hills, Jos, Plateau State, as any visitor to the CLTC website would learn, military personnel in combat gear and in green camoflague, with guns hoisted on their shoulders, and trudging through the marshy and rugged terrain of the Lamingo area of Jos, Pateau State, are a common sight in Shere Hills.The school used to be known as MAN O' WAR' Bay Training Centre, but the name was later changed to the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre. The school is a product of 'Outward Bound type of education developed by late Dr. Kurt Hahn, a German, who later naturalised as a Briton.'Alex Ogunnusi, a senior instructor at the training institute, explained that the centre trains not only military personnel but also paramilitary ones such as the Customs, Immigration, Police, Civil Defence, FRSC, ICPC, EFCC, VIO and others including civilians who express interest. In his view, the course schedule is structured in such a way to improve the mental, social and physical capabilities of students.'Before you put on your first pip as a security officer be it police, army or as a matter of fact a security operative, it is expected that you must have passed through the CLTC.'At the same time, the CLTC field arm, Man O' War Nigeria, has remained active in spite of the official neglect of the paramilitary body, particularly since the return to civil rule in 1999. For instance, the 2011 Leadership Refresher Training Course held between Friday, 14th October and Sunday, 16th October, at the St Bernadise Grammar School, Oyo, Oyo State, brought to life most of the aspects of Man O' War training for which it acquired fame in the past. The three-day course involved the usual road walk, physical training, parades/drills, rope/obstacle training; games and sports, quiz competition, camp fire, lectures by distinguished personalities and excursion to the Old Oyo National Park, among other activities.The special lecture entitled 'Moral Decadence: The Way Out'' delivered by a scholar, Dr Mrs Akin Taylor and 'State of Insecurity: The Role of Man O' War'' delivered by the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Moses Onireti, focused on key aspects of moral revolution and security collaboration in the country.In his address on the occasion, the Oyo State Commander, Man O' War Nigeria, Adeoye Ayoade, noted that 'in order to actualise the development of its core values, the organisation incorporates the following into its training programmes: character development, adventure and challenges. Compassion and services, social and environmental responsibilities. To this end, the organisation helps youths to discover and develop their potentialities to care for themselves, others and the community around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings.'' To this end, the organisation is set to collaborate with the Oyo State government on its YES-O youth empowerment programme.It is in this regard that many have observed that Man O' War Nigeria needs to be saddled with greater responsibility in the country. In the context of the claim by the Minister of Police Affairs that over 15,000 policemen merely carry bags for the wives of politicians, many Nigerians are of the view that Man O' War Nigeria should be saddled with the responsibility of serving as orderlies for politicians, while the CLTC should be upgraded accordingly.
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