By Amos Tauna
The Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, said on Monday that the institution will be graduating 365 officers into Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Togo armed forces.
NDA is the premier military university in the entire African region, training young Nigerians and those of allied countries in both military and academics.
They are endowed at the end of a 5 – year training stint at the Academy with a degree from any of the 4 Faculties currently operational and commissioned into the Nigerian Armed Forces and those of Allied Countries.
Commandant of NDA, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, while briefing newsmen on activities mapped out on the passing out parade (PoP) of the cadets for Army, Navy and Air Force in Kaduna , explained that the graduating students have met the necessary requirements that qualified them for the award after five years of serious military and academic trainings.
Represented by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Ami, the Commandant further said, the event billed for October 6, 2018 at the Academy parade ground, is expected to be reviewed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“365 cadets officers including 2 allied cadets from Republics of Benin and Togo. Out of which 131 cadets of 65RC will be commissioned into the Nigerian Army, while members of 66RC of Navy and Air Force will proceed to their respective services for further training before commissioning.
“As you may recall, last year, the President, Commander – in – Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, was suitably represented at the POP ceremonies for 64RC (Army), 65RC (Navy/Air Force) and SSC 44 (Army) by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON.
“This year, the President Commander-in Chief of the Armed forces President Muhammadu Buhari will be at hand to grace this year’s events,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Academy is expected to also confer honourary degrees on 3 eminent Nigerians; Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Adewumi Adesina, President African Development Bank and Lt Gen C I Obiako, former Military Adviser to United Nations.
So far, NDA has trained over 20,000 officers since inception, of which a small fraction are from allied countries like Benin Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Seirra Leone, Togo and others.
