Army graduates 384 female soldiers in Abuja

The Nigerian Army has graduated 384 female soldiers after they successfully completed Exercise SHINING STAR 2026 in Giri, Abuja.

The passing out ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Giri.

According to a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s X account on Thursday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, was represented at the ceremony by Major General Umar Gital Yusuf.

In his address, the Chief of Army Staff’s representative praised the soldiers for their discipline, dedication and commitment throughout the training.

Highlights of the ceremony included obstacle-crossing demonstrations and weapons-handling exercises. The female soldiers demonstrated their ability to dismantle and reassemble AK-47 rifles while blindfolded.

Ahmed said 384 female soldiers from the 90 Regular Recruit Intake participated in the exercise, alongside 14 male personnel from the Headquarters, Directorate of Army Physical Training, and 70 male personnel from the 167 Special Forces Battalion.

Eight personnel who performed exceptionally well during the exercise received awards from the Acting Commander of the Nigerian Army Women Command.

The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, representatives of paramilitary agencies and other invited guests.

The exercise is part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to improve the skills of its personnel and strengthen their readiness to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.