For many youths in Anambra and across the South East, the Nigerian Army feels distant,even alien.
At recruitment centres in the zone,turnout remains low, reflecting a deeper struggle between history, perception and present realities.
This necessitated Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent appeal to young Ndi Anambra to show more interest in military service.
The call reopened an old debate about belonging, trust and opportunity within Nigeria’s security architecture, drawing varied reactions from elder statesmen, government officials and youths.
Elder statesman, Ambassador John Ifejika traced the reluctance to post-civil war experiences that reshaped Igbo attitudes to the armed forces, citing decades of limited representation at senior military levels and declining interest among younger generations.
He noted that the trend can change through deliberate reorientation that presents the army as a disciplined, structured and rewarding career, suggesting school parades, career days and visible success stories to help youths see military service as a pathway to personal growth and national contribution.
However, Chief Jonathan Nzekwe opined that orientation alone is insufficient, pointing to widespread fears that South Easterners are more likely to be deployed to high-risk zones with higher casualty rates, a belief he said fuels family resistance.
From the government’s circle, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo, Chief Chinedu Nwoye attributed part of the problem to the mindset of some Igbo youths who prefer senior or prestigious positions while overlooking the importance of starting from lower ranks like their peers elsewhere.
He maintained that representation cannot improve without active participation and that claims of marginalisation become harder to sustain when communities stay away from the system, urging the public to see the governor’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day message as a call for engagement rather than provocation.
On his part, Mr Anthony Nwobu linked distrust to the civil war experience, perceived imbalance in military leadership and lingering Biafra sentiment, adding that sit-at-home protest further weaken identification with national institutions, while noting that criticism of the governor’s appeal reflects broader regional frustrations rather than personal attacks.
Kende Ajimoda, a corps member from Ondo State living in Anambra, observed that family influence, cultural beliefs and fear of insecurity affect career choices nationwide, with concerns about work-life balance, intense training and deployment to volatile regions discourage many, especially women.
Taken together, these perspectives show that the low interest of Ndi Anambra in joining the army stems from a complex mix of historical memory, perceived injustice, personal safety concerns and evolving youth aspirations.
