The Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has restated the government’s commitment to sustaining the tempo of funding and infrastructural development of the National Defence Academy and the educational sector as a whole.
Professor Osinbajo stated this in a message to the 31st convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna in honour of the Cadets of the 68 Regular Course held at the Academy Auditorium.
The Vice President who was a special guest of honour at the ceremony was represented by the Minister of Defence retired Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) who is also the Chairman NDA Council.
Globally Acceptable
He said the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has invested vital resources in meeting globally acceptable standard in all facets of education, economy and polity.
A statement from the Ministry of Defence said, while appreciating the enviable status of the Nigerian Defence Academy as the foremost military University and a great citadel of learning in sub- Saharan Africa, he tasked the leadership of the institution to accord priority attention to the teaching of modern military science.
He appealed to Nigerians to renew hope in Nigeria explaining that great nations never succumb to momentary challenges such as social upheavals, religious intolerance and economic hardship.
Earlier in his address, the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf said the Institution has made remarkable and sustainable academic progress and infrastructural transformation since its establishment in 1964.
General Yusuf vouched for the Cadet and other graduands pointing out that they are well equipped with requisite knowledge and good character to navigate the turbulence of life and to contribute their quotas to nation building.
Established academic tradition
The Minister of Defence Major General Bashir Magashi is a former Cadet Brigade Commander and former NDA Commandant between 1998 and 1999, who performed the statutory Council’s Chairman duty in line with the established academic tradition as he conferred awards of Diplomas and Degrees Certicates on the Cadets, Civilian graduands and Honourary PhD awards on the business mogul, Aliko Dangote.
Two posthumous awards went to the families of the 21st Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, received by his wife, Fati Attahiru and son of the late elder stateman Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Joda.
There was an unveiling ceremony of the Academy Book Series on Defence and Security.
Lateefah Ibrahim
