The Nigerian Government has described military veterans as a vital national security asset whose expertise, if properly harnessed, can significantly contribute to advancing national interests.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, stated this at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Nigerian Defence Academy 18 Regular Course in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Mallam Ribadu said that “the President is deeply concerned with the current security challenges and the enormous motivation that lies within the veteran community.”
According to Mallam Ribadu, “We inherited five intractable security challenges that had brought our nation to the brink.”
The NSA stressed that the Boko Haram insurgency had claimed over 35,000 lives in the North East, with millions displaced and entire communities destroyed.
“I’m proud to report that under President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s leadership, we have recorded significant gains across all these fronts. These achievements from 2023 to today, 2025, represent the power of strategic thinking, coordinated operations, and unwavering commitment,” he said.
According to him, their operations in the Northeast have yielded remarkable results.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Brigadier General Muhammad Abubakar, RTD, who is the Grand Patron and Father of the Day, expressed his appreciation to God for keeping them alive till today to celebrate the golden age.
The Chairman of the occasion, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd), said as one who had the privilege of welcoming them into the military as their Cadet Battalion Commander 50 years ago, he cannot but over-emphasize his degree of elevation, being with them.
“Today, the Federal Government of Nigeria is safe because you have established that decorum of working for the safety of our country,” he said.
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According to him, they have problems all over Nigeria, but without the bravery of men like them here, the country would have disintegrated much, much longer than now.
The 22nd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika (Rtd), urged military leaders to make military training mandatory for younger ones.
He praised the present government for bringing back the old national anthem, which reminds them of their oath of allegiance to the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of NDA 18 Regular Course, Air Commodore Isaac Oguntuyi (Rtd), said they started their military career at the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, as young men about 50 years ago as young men.
According to him, on 38 June 1975, they were among 149 sets of 18 regular corps and short-service corps as a set, comprising 74 cadets in the regular and 75 in the short-service counterparts.
He, however, said that only 47 of them were alive to witness the 50th reunion.
“Though united by duty, our past was not without sacrifice,” he said.