Defence
THE Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd), has tasked military personnel to continue to be more professional and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.
He gave the charge at the 35th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion/Gala Night of the 39 Regular Course, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) at the Army Officers’ Mess on Saturday night in Abuja.
The minister, represented by Maj.-Gen. AbdulMalik Jibril (Rtd), President of the Nigerian Legion, said professionalism and dedication to duty has been the backbone of the military profession in any part of the world.
He, however, congratulated the members, adding that they had so far done excellently well in their various endeaviours and respective fields of assignments.
Magashi reminded them to also remember some of their colleagues who paid the supreme price and had gone great beyond.
“In this regard, it is worthy to mention that your noble initiative, lend credence to the vital aspect of military profession and tradition.
“I am astonished to see a pool of officers united for such a purpose. This reflects great credit upon yourself as individual and in collectivity,” he said.
The minister commended them for their financial interventions for the families of the fallen heroes, and donations to Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Lagos and the Nigerian Air Force Hospital, kaduna.
“As well as the reequipping of research laboratory to NDA. I have no doubt that these projects will have attracted huge resource implications in the light of our current economic realities.
“I applaud your generosity and hereby consider your gestures worthy of emulation accordingly.
“I want you to sustain all efforts directed toward making better our armed forces. It’s pleasing to see you all in various shades of grey and glamour and even to those could not join us today due to various office exigencies.
“ I urge you to continue to discharge your duties in professional manner. And we must do this as we strive to cover the contemporary security situation and proffer lasting solutions.“
Also, the outgone President of the union, Emmanuel Undairdeje, said that they had the cause to celebrate bearing in mind where they were coming from as young students 35 years ago.
“For us it a thing of joy and a call for celebration of life, service, a thank to Almighty God, a special occasion for the reunion of friendships and alliances.
“That started 35 years ago as young officers who had no knowledge of what the future entails or holds for everyone of us.
“I, therefore, congratulate all of us for attaining this remarkable milestone of a very long journey and still counting and moving ahead,“he said.
According to him, the union has so far visited some institutions like the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital, Lagos, among others where their spouses presented a specialised medical equipment to the institutions.
“Our spouses also visited the wives of the service chiefs and donated some equipment to the skills acquisition centres to assist the wives of the fallen heroes to be self dependent.“
The outgone president said that all these efforts aimed at making life better and meaningful to the wives of the fallen heroes.
He said the union also invited the spouses of the fallen heroes who were traceable to join in the celebration, hence the opportunity to recognise and extend a hand of fellowship to them as well.
This, he said, was one of the high points of the celebration. (NAN)
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Tags: AbdulMalik Jibril Gen. Bashir Magashi
