Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria .:: COAS Commssions Upgraded NDA Obstacle Crossing Course

COAS Commssions Upgraded NDA Obstacle Crossing Course

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Community witnessed yet another epoch making event when the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General TY Buratai visited the Academy to commission the recently upgraded NDA Obstacle Crossing Course projects at the Permanent Site of the NDA.

The project, which was conceptualized by the current Commandant, Major General MT Ibrahim, has seen the old Obstacle Crossing Course enlarged to accommodate four cadets battalion simultaneously. Furthermore, the upgraded Obstacle Crossing Course is fitted with new apparatuses like Confidence Towers, which would enable cadets master the skill of rappelling from a considerable height, and artificial showers to create the simulation of rainfall during obstacle crossing exercises. The aim is to throw more realism into the training of cadets in the Academy.

In his welcome address to COAS, the Commandant NDA, Major General MT Ibrahim, noted that the NDA takes seriously the mandate of training the young men and women to be eligible for commissioning into the Nigerian Armed Forces and is thus working hard to re-jig and reposition Academy towards excellence. General MT Ibrahim applauded the COASâ€™s visit to NDA, noting that it would serve to inspire the cadets to aspire to reach the highest pinnacle of the military profession. He disclosed that NDA is always delighted to receive Service Chiefs that have distinguished themselves in peace times and in trying moments of our national development.

Responding, the COAS commended the NDA for maintaining international best practice in the training of young officer cadets for the armed forces and instilling the virtues of loyalty and valour in them, as well as the importance defending the territorial integrity of their country especially in this challenging times. He acknowledged that as senior officers, they reached such important positions from humble beginnings. He further urged the Academy to impact on its cadets the value of humility and hard work. The COAS disclosed that his vision for the Nigerian Army started when he was a cadet in NDA. He therefore urged the Academy to create awareness and consciousness of the happenings in the North East of the country in the minds of the cadets, noting that terrorism is a relatively new phenomenon in Nigeria, as such the cadets need to be acquainted with what terrorism is, the motivations behind it and the counter terrorism measures that could be adopted.
Furthermore, he tasked the Academy to do everything possible to maintain standard, avoid indoctrination to internet and create serious awareness on surfing the internet. According to him, leadership is the key to military education. He further urged NDA to focus on that.

Lieutenant General TY Buratai said he was very happy to be in NDA and commended the Commandant for taking the Academy to a higher ground.

The Upgraded Obstacle Crossing Course in part of a retinue of projects commissioned or nearing commissioning that were either initiated or completed by the present Commandant NDA, Major General MT Ibrahim, since he assumed office in August 2015. Other projects include the NDA Logo Monument Roundabout, the new NDA Armoury, the Indoor Gallery Range, the 5th Termerâ€™s Block and the ultra â€“ modern Loyalty Conference Hall, among others.

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