NEWS
Alarm Over South-East Underrepresentation as Nigerian Army Flags Low Enrolment, Anambra Records Just 117 Applicants Out of 38,000 Nationwide, Intensifies Sensitisation Drive Ahead of Recruitment Deadline
The Nigerian Army has raised fresh concerns over what it described as the persistently low level of enrolment from Nigeria’s South-East region in its ongoing recruitment exercise, revealing that Anambra State recorded only 117 applicants out of a total of 38,000 applications received nationwide.
This worrying disclosure was made during a sensitisation event held at the Ministry of Youths’ office in Awka, the state capital, as military authorities intensified efforts to reverse the trend and boost participation from the region.
Leading the army delegation, Brigadier General Uche Nnabuihe explained that the figure reflected records as of April 7, prior to the launch of a nationwide awareness campaign for the 91 Regular Recruits Intake.
According to him, the outreach programme is part of a broader strategy to mobilise and encourage eligible youths, particularly from the South-East, to take advantage of available opportunities within the military.
The concern is not new. Findings indicate that as far back as April 2025, the Nigerian Army had already sounded the alarm over declining participation from the region. At the time, the leader of the recruitment enlightenment team, Chima Ekeator, warned that the South-East risked missing out on its fair share of recruitment opportunities due to low turnout.
Speaking during a town hall meeting in Enugu, Ekeator highlighted the imbalance, noting that despite the allocation of 200 slots to South-East states in the previous recruitment cycle, the region struggled to produce up to 100 applicants.
“Our people are losing what rightly belongs to them. Each year, whenever a slot is being allocated to our people, we keep noticing that the number of applicants from our side is usually very poor,” Ekeator said.
Reinforcing this concern during Saturday’s sensitisation, Nnabuihe stressed that the exercise was specifically designed to correct the disparity and drive greater awareness among youths in Anambra and the wider South-East. He noted that the recruitment, open to both tradesmen and non-tradesmen, will close on May 27.
“We observed with concern that out of 38,000 applications received nationwide, only 117 came from Anambra as of April 7.
“This sensitisation is to correct that imbalance and encourage our youths to take advantage of the opportunities available in the Nigerian Army.
“We urge eligible youths to apply. The Army offers a structured career path and opportunities for national service.”
Further lending weight to the campaign, Lieutenant Colonel Ogbemudia Osawe disclosed that the Army has significantly expanded its training capacity with new institutions in Abakaliki and Osogbo to accommodate incoming recruits.
He outlined several incentives attached to military service, including career advancement, regular salaries and allowances, access to continuous education, and specialised training programmes. He also noted that personnel benefit from exposure to diverse cultures, robust welfare packages, free medical care for themselves and their families, as well as pension and gratuity upon retirement. Opportunities for international assignments, he added, further enhance the appeal of a military career.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Anambra State Ministry of Youths, Ifeatu Emodi, commended the Army’s initiative, describing military enlistment as a critical pathway for youth empowerment in the region. He observed that declining interest among young people is largely driven by misconceptions and misinformation about military service.
Adding a traditional perspective, the ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Michael Okeke-Uche, praised the welfare structure of the Nigerian Army and called on youths to seize the opportunity by enlisting. He emphasised that increased participation is essential to ensure that the South-East maintains adequate representation within the nation’s military framework.
With the recruitment deadline drawing closer, stakeholders say the ongoing sensitisation campaign may prove decisive in reversing the trend and securing a stronger presence for South-East youths in the Nigerian Army.