General Ihejirika charges graduating NDA cadets on selfless service
General Ihejirika charges graduating NDA cadets on selfless service
General Ihejirika charges graduating NDA cadets on selfless service
A former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Onyeabo Azubike Ihejirika, has urged cadets of the 68 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to reciprocate the government’s huge investment in their training by offering selfless service to the nation.
A statement on Thursday, by Bashir Mohammed Jajira, Major Academy Public Relations Officer, said General Ihejirika was the Special Guest of Honour at the Academy Awards and Beating of the Retreat ceremony which was held at the NDA Parade Ground, Afaka Kawo Kaduna State.
He reminded the graduating cadets that a lot of resources have gone into shaping their character development and providing them with quality military training and a sound academic foundation.
He, therefore, called on the cadets to always put the country first before personal considerations, adding that, in discharging their duties, they must place the country first above all other interests.
He advised the cadets to always uphold their constitutional roles and subordination to civil authority
Ihejirika, however, admonished the cadets not to lose focus but to be on their guard before their Passing out Parade on 9 October 2021.
“The road to your commissioning is still narrow and the journey is far. With discipline, however, you will get there; just remain level-headed and focused”, he added.
Responding, Commandant NDA, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, thanked General Ihejirika for finding time to attend the 2020/2021 Academy Awards and Beating of the Retreat.
He added that, General Ihejirika was a quintessential Officer and a former COAS who recorded several remarkable achievements, including the expansion of the Nigerian Army through massive recruitment and training, the establishment of seven Division, as well as the procurement of military equipment, among many others.
He further noted that Ihejirika is a selfless individual of outstanding commitment and character who has left behind visible footprints throughout the Nigerian Army.
The Commandant reminded the cadets that the Academy Awards and Beating of the Retreat ceremony, apart from marking the end of training activities for the year, provides a platform for rewarding hard work and outstanding performance in military training and sporting activities, both by individual cadets and cadets’ battalions.
For cadets of 68 Regular Course, whom he disclosed commenced their training at the Nigerian Defence Academy on 3 September 2016, the Beating of the Retreat event brings to culmination five-years of rigorous military and academic training, and character development, at the Academy.
The commandant further disclosed that upon the completion of all training at the Academy, and training institutions of both the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force, 260 cadets have qualified for Passing Out and commissioning into the Nigerian Armed Forces on 9 October 2021.
General Ihejirika charges graduating NDA cadets on selfless service
