Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Maj.-Gen. Aminu Chinade, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has engaged and sensitised secondary school students on career prospects and opportunities in the Nigerian Army.
“The Nigerian Army is well-organised and well-structured to accommodate you, your profession and positive passion you are aiming at in life,” Chineda said on Tuesday in a public speaking engagement for selected secondary schools in Enugu.
The engagement, which is part of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, was themed: “Sound Administration as a Panacea for Effective Military Operations.”
The GOC, represented by Brig.-Gen. Damian Dieke, Commander of 82 Division Education Corp, said that the Nigerian Army personnel were trained to fight and defend the country as well as maintain internal security.
“As you come in and join us as Nigerian Army personnel, we will help to improve your career with periodic training and retraining to ensure you are abreast with the latest learning and technology in your profession.
“This will definitely make you offer the best services to the nation and humanity.
“The Nigerian Army has robust medical services for its personnel and their dependents as well as the highest welfare package that cannot be compared to any establishment or service in the country,” he said.
Chinade, said that the Nigerian Army, which has over 20 professionalised corps, would provide an environment for young Nigerians with passion, patriotism and dedication to service and protect the territory integrity of the nation.
According to him, all the corps work to achieve the same purpose of protecting the territorial integrity, defending the country from external aggression and ensuring internal security for the country.
He said that intensive training in the Nigerian Army was not meant to be punitive; but as a means of instilling discipline, building stamina and physical fitness among the personnel.
Reacting, Mr Polycarp Alaya, Principal, New Haven Secondary School, Enugu, appreciated the Nigerian Army for taking time to explain its career prospects and opportunities as well as the wonderful welfare package to the students and teachers.
Alaya urged the Nigerian Army to make the engagement with students a continuous one in order to dispel all unfounded misinformation and negativity that might be planted in the minds of the children against the Nigerian Army.
He said: “The Nigerian Army has done well for the nation and individual Nigerians with their security work and other services as well as strategic societal projects/interventions they had carried out over the years.
“With all you have explained and lectured today, I am sure our students will see the need to see the Nigerian Army in high esteem and respect; while willing to join it to make Nigeria great.”
One of the students, Master Salvation Ogbonna, from Command Day Secondary School, Enugu, said that the engagement had opened his eyes to the sacrifices made day and night by Nigerian Army personnel to keep us all safe.
“I have also learnt that the Nigerian Army personnel work as a team and ensure close comradeship even in the war front as well as time of peace,” Ogbonna said.
Another student, Master Chigozie Eneh from New Haven Secondary School, Enugu, said that he was convinced to take up a career in the Nigerian Army after being exposed to the benefits of the organisation.
Highlights of the engagement were the various presentations by various Nigerian Army corps on their career prospects and benefits; how to enlist in the Nigerian Army with different qualifications; and presentation on the need to support the Nigerian Army.
The week-long Nigerian Army celebration was meant to celebrate its 160 years (since 1863) of active service to the nation and humanity.
The Nigerian Army, which is the land component of the Nigerian Military, has eight Divisions scattered within the country.
