The Nigerian Army (NA) has enlightened students in Kogi on the career opportunities available to them in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The event, tagged “Public Speaking Engagement,” was sponsored by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. . Taoreed Lagbaja, as part of activities to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2024.
Speaking on behalf of the COAS on Tuesday at GYB Model Science Secondary School, Andankolo, Lokoja, the Commander 12 Brigade (Bde) NA, Brig.-Gen Haruna Dasuki, said NADCEL was an annual event to mark the establishment of NA in 1863.
According to him, every July 6 symbolises the day in the Nigerian Civil War when the first shot was fired in the NA quest to keep the nation united.
He noted that NADCEL 2024, with the theme “Transforming the Nigerian Army Imperative for Combating Contemporary Security Challenges within a Joint,” was to mark 161 years of varied challenges as one of the greatest armies in the world with an eventful history.
The commander who represented the team leader, Lt. Col. Buda Magaji, noted that the NA had made significant contributions to national development and progress in several areas such as security, education, engineering, health, science, and sports, among others.
“It is due to these accomplishments that the NA always seizes the opportunity presented by the period culminating on July 6 to celebrate and give glory to God.
“As part of activities lined up for NADCEL 2024 is the public speaking engagement visit to selected secondary schools across the country, sponsored by the COAS.
“The NADCEL aims to showcase the Army as an instrument of national unity, integration, and development, as well as highlight the achievements, capabilities, and enduring reputation of the NA.
“Therefore, the public speaking engagement visit to schools is to enlighten students on the career opportunities open to them in the Nigerian Army,” he said.
The commander promised the commitment of the NA, under the leadership of Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, to continue to conduct kinetic and non-kinetic operations that would ensure the quick resolution of the country’s security challenges.
In his presentation, Maj. Musa Izang, the 12 BDE Education Officer, enlightened the students on the history, activities, prospects, and opportunities available to them in NA.
Izang stressed the need for the students to be patriotic citizens by promoting unity, love, devotion, loyalty, and a sense of attachment to Nigeria, urging them to avoid cultism, drug abuse, ethnicity, and tribal sentiment.
He advised the students to learn to see each other as brothers and sisters irrespective of ethnicity, background, and religion, stressing the need to avoid criminal company and every act of criminality.
In his vote of thanks, the school principal, Chief Godwins Yakubu, commended the NA for their civility and thanked the COAS and the commander for choosing the GYB model school for the enlightenment programme as well as the as the donation of writing materials to students.
Yakubu emphasised that the enlightenment programme on patriotism, discipline, and career opportunities would go a long way to complement the school’s efforts in raising patriotic citizens for Nigeria.
The principal commended the Kogi State Government for its massive investment in education, especially the infrastructure development at the GYB school, as a model in the state and Nigeria at large.
Some of the students, Favour Gabriel and Haliru Abdulsamad, both expressed their gratitude to the NA for enlightening them on core values to become patriotic citizens.
The highlights of the event were the display of a video documentary on the history and activities of the NA, the presentation of souvenirs to staff, and the distribution of writing materials to students.
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