Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General Mohammed Tasi’u Ibrahim, has extolled the Retired Army, Navy and Air Force Officers Association (RANAO) for their role in assisting retired military officers settle into post – service life, noting that with the efforts of the association serving  officers can nurse the hope that they will not retire into oblivion.


The Commandant who made this commendation when members of the executive committee of RANAO Kaduna Chapter paid him a courtesy visit at the NDA Headquarters, said that it was gratifying to see very distinguished retired officers looking fit and well after so many years of disengagement from active service, to which they had given their best years to our great nation. He gave credence to the legacies Major General Tai Pedro, Chairman of the Kaduna chapter of RANAO, whilst he was still in service in the Nigerian Army, noting that General Pedro is a household name in the Nigerian Army. The Commandant recalled General Pedro’s adherence to standards and discipline while he was in the Nigerian Army and gave credit to the retired General for the moulding him and others in the Nigerian Armed Forces into sturdy, efficient and disciplined officers.



Speaking on the relevance of RANAO and its place in the society, Major General Ibrahim expressed hope that the nation will soon wake up to the importance of the association and accord it its rightful position in the Nigerian society. He made reference to the United States of America where the US Veterans association plays an active role in the society, and where government gives adequate support to veterans.

While addressing the visiting RANAO executives on the reforms currently ongoing in the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Commandant noted that NDA has taken stock of how it trains cadets in the past and is re - strategizing to make its graduates more effective leaders in future. He decried when graduates of the Academy fell short of the required standard and were seen as a disappointment. He further made a pledge that, henceforth, products of the Nigerian Defence Academy must measure up to the highest standard attainable anywhere in the world. According to him, “No misfit cadet will pass out”. He intoned that it was better to produce a few well trained and efficient officers than to produce many substandard graduates.


Chairman of the RANAO Kaduna Chapter, Brigadier General Tai Pedro (rtd), while making his remarks during the visit, enumerated some of the objectives of the association to include creating a conducive environment for newly retired officers to integrate into society and offer a forum for further interaction and cooperation. The association, according to him, also creates a platform for exchange of ideas with the various Services on ways to move the armed forces forward.



The RANAO Chairman, who noted that one of the goals of the visit to NDA was to confer on the Commandant NDA the position of a Patron to the association, further disclosed that their visit was also to discuss the possibility and follow up on a previous visit by RANAO to NDA where it made some request for assistance and support. He also used the opportunity to inform the Commandant that RANAO has agreed to open up the doors to staff of the Nigerian Defence Academy as honorary members of their clubhouse.


High points of the visit include the official conferment of the position of Parton to the Commandant, Major General MT Ibrahim, and a presentation of cash support by the Commandant NDA to RANAO.






                                                                                             
                                                                                             Capt MA Yahaya.
                                                                                             NDA PRO.


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