REMARKS BY THE CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF VICE ADMIRAL AZ GAMBO AM GSS GSS psc ensp (RSA) MTM MNIM MUSNI FCIS FIIPS FCAI FNIM THE SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR ON THE OCCASION OF THE ACADEMY REGIMENTAL DINNER NIGHT IN HONOUR OF THE PASSING OUT OFFICER CADETS OF 68 REGULAR COURSE ON WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER 2021
PROTOCOL
1. On behalf of the officers, ratings and civilian staff of the Nigerian Navy (NN), I feel highly honoured to be in your midst this evening as the Special Guest of Honour at this Regimental Dinner Night in honour of the passing out cadets of 68 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. I recall vividly that some years back I was seated like you here this evening, so coming back as the Special Guest of Honour no doubt gives me a lot of nostalgic feelings. You would all agree with me that NDA is indeed a unique institution. May I start by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Commandant, Maj Gen IM Yusuf for finding me worthy to serve as the Guest of Honour at this dinner night. Let me also commend the impressive efforts of the Academy for creating an ideal regimental setting while adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures at this dinner. These protocols have allowed invited guests, officers and the passing out cadets to feel free and safe this evening.
2. I wish to seize this opportunity to heartily congratulate the Commandant, the Principal Staff Officers and the entire staff of the Nigerian Defence Academy for their relentless efforts in turning out yet another set of highly qualified and skilled cadets who will soon be deployed to the Services to make their inputs in the service of our dear nation. Keeping in line with military tradition, this occasion offers the passing out cadets among other things, a valuable opportunity to partake in this regimentation which fosters comradeship among senior and junior officers in a conducive social environment. Fundamentally, the dinner night affords military officers, both seniors and juniors, the opportunity to interact, share views and remind themselves of the traditions in the military. It also presents an appropriate occasion for the potential officers to learn the virtues of military etiquette and regimental procedures required of a gentleman military officer. Personally, the dinner night gives me a great opportunity to offer some useful advice to the graduating cadets who will soon be commissioned officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
3. To you the graduating cadets, I congratulate you for surmounting all the obstacles to successfully come thus far. As you await your commissioning, which will usher you into the noble career you have chosen, I urge you to bear in mind that you have been trained and equipped with the capacity to professionally discharge your enshrined constitutional responsibilities. You must live up to these tasks as commissioned officers and men of honour and exhibit sound professional conduct. Be reminded that the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria as a whole expect so much from you in terms of dedication to duty and selfless service to the nation. Hence, I must emphasise that discipline, loyalty and professionalism are the hallmarks of a military career. In order for you to rise to generalship, which is the desire of any military officer, you must maintain a high sense of responsibility, integrity, dedication, knowledge and above all good character. Against this background, I wish to advise you all to be cautious, well behaved and avoid all forms of temptations that could lead you to compromise the standard of military ethics for material and self-gratifications. Therefore, you must shun all forms of corrupt practices and negative conduct that go against the moral principles of the military which is a noble profession globally.
4. Since its establishment in 1964, the Nigerian Defence Academy has consistently transformed its physical infrastructure and intellectual capital to meet the manpower needs of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. I, therefore, have no doubt that the Academy has prepared you cadets adequately to meet the demands of the ever-changing volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous operational environment. You must therefore brace up to the current expectations to meet up with the contemporary challenges and play your part to justify the huge investment that the nation has made on you.
5. Let me at this juncture commend the gallant officers and men of the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their selfless sacrifices over the years which have contributed to keeping our country together. Recently, the military has recorded a lot of successes in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists as well as other forms of insurgency and banditry activities in different parts of the country. You are therefore called upon to follow suit to ensure that the ultimate sacrifice paid by our fallen heroes does not go in vain. I wish to also implore you, the graduating cadets, to strive to develop yourselves further in order to make progress in your career. I therefore enjoin you to continue to cover new grounds, and acquire more knowledge and skills to march the dynamism of the operational environment.
6. Senior Officers, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, as I close my remarks, I wish to appreciate the Commandant, Staff, Instructors and the entire Academy Community for their efforts in shaping the character of the cadets and providing them with purposeful military training and sound academic foundation. I urge you to strive and keep it up. Let me also thank the Catering Department for providing us with such a sumptuous dinner. We have also been well entertained by the Nigerian Defence Academy Band. For everybody that worked tirelessly to organise tonight’s event, you have all done well. Finally, while wishing the passing out cadets a successful commissioning ceremony on 9 October 2021, I pray for journey mercies as we all depart to our various destinations tonight. Thank you, God bless and Onward Together.