SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Working to help build stronger democracies and improve security around the globe, members of the California National Guard (CNG) will travel to Nigeria in the coming weeks to continue providing assistance and training to the Nigerian armed forces. The effort, part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, gives the CNG the opportunity to share best practices with Nigerian leaders to improve security procedures, rule of law, aviation maintenance, human rights and service member welfare. The CNG has partnered with armed forces in Nigeria since 2006.
“Our partnership with Nigeria is essential to improving its military, as well as our own National Guard force,” said Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, Adjutant General for the California National Guard. “By sharing best practices and strengthening relationships, we are helping lay the foundation for peace in Africa.”
Over the next several weeks, several soldiers from the CNG will travel to Africa to join other U.S. armed forces personnel to work alongside their Nigerian counterparts in strengthening their leadership and military decision-making skills, land navigation and marksmanship.
Since 1993, CNG soldiers and airmen have partnered with Ukraine, and more recently, Nigeria, as part of the State Partnership Program. During those two decades, the CNG has worked alongside the militaries of both nations in conducting more than 300 leader engagements and multinational exercises.
For more information about the California National Guard’s involvement in Nigeria, please contact Capt. Will Martin, public affairs officer, at (916) 799-9525 or william.l.martin48.mil@mail.mil.
