COAS Harps On Data Management

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has emphasized the need to secure and manage data efficiently for operational success and administrative excellence in the military.

He said that in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, managing and securing data efficiently is not just a requirement but a cornerstone of operational success and administrative excellence.

Gen Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation (Army), Maj Gen Olumuyiwa Aiyenigba, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while declaring open the Second Edition of the Army Headquarters, Department of Military Secretary Data Management and Record Keeping Seminar 2024, with the theme “Efficient Data Management and Record Keeping in a Digital Era: An Imperative for Sustaining a Professional Nigerian Army within a Joint Environment.”

Lagbaja, who was the Special Guest of Honour, also expressed conviction that effective data management and record keeping is fundamental to a victorious Army, adding that the seminar offered a valuable opportunity for participants to gain essential knowledge and skills which are necessary for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.

“By focusing on current best practices in our data management and record-keeping system, we will ensure that the Nigerian Army remains adaptive, resilient, and capable of meeting the demands of a joint environment,” he said.

This, Lagbaja said, includes traditional military engagements and the increasingly significant domains of cyber and media operations.

Expressing delight at the participation of various AHQ departments, corps, and formations’ record offices, the Army Chief added that their presence at the seminar demonstrated a solid commitment to enhancing their expertise in data management, record keeping, cyber security, and document security.

The Army Chief said the seminar came when the military operates in a complex environment, especially in cyber and media domains, while also engaged in numerous national operations.

The Army Chief averred that these challenges underscore the vital importance of efficient data management and record-keeping for the effective administration of the Nigerian Army.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Military Secretary (Army), Maj Gen Eyitayo Oyinlola, said the seminar was borne out of the critical necessity to streamline and enhance data management and record-keeping practices within the Nigerian Army in today’s digital era. He noted that the seminar represents a significant milestone in their collective pursuit of excellence in data management and record-keeping within the Nigerian Army.

Oyinlola said that the seminar’s focus was to imbue best practices in data management and record keeping, with emphasis on proper document storage and security in a digital era, in order to foster the Nigerian Army’s efficiency and effectiveness.

“Effective data management and record-keeping ensures the preservation of institutional data and records of vital historical value to facilitate quick decision-making and sound administration of the Nigerian Army for years to come,” he said.

He concluded that the knowledge that will be shared during this seminar will, therefore, be instrumental in enabling the Nigerian Army to maintain accurate records, facilitate informed decision-making, and optimise its overall effectiveness in administering the Nigerian Army.