Buhari at NDA passing out parade

Full text of a speech delivered
By  President Muhammadu Buhari at the passing out of the 62nd Regular Course  officer cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy

I am very proud and very pleased to be here today on this occasion of the passing out of the 62nd Regular Course and Short Service Course 43 (Army) officer cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

This passing out ceremony is special to me as it is the first to hold since the assumption of office of my administration. It also comes a year after the history-making Golden Jubilee celebrations exactly one year ago. The successful training of cadets over the years is a clear manifestation of your hard work and dedication to duty. By this, the Nigerian Defence Academy has once again justified the vision and wisdom of our Founding Fathers in establishing this institution.

I note that the Academy has consistently proved its worth over the past 51 years by turning out well trained and well disciplined officers for the Armed Forces of our great country. It is a matter of national pride that the Nigerian Defence Academy has, over the years, also trained and graduated cadets from a number of sister African countries. These include the Republic of Liberia, Uganda and Togo. Others are Central African Republic, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.

Successive Nigerian Governments have developed our armed forces into one that is well trained, efficient and equipped to meet national security challenges. Our government is determined to confront current challenges and long term plans for the development of the Armed forces.

The execution of an excellent parade such as the one we have just witnessed requires tremendous hard work, high standard of discipline, rigorous training and rehearsal. I am proud to note that the Academy has consistently adopted best global practices in both military and academic training of the cadets. This has indeed reflected in the world class training the Nigerian Defence Academy offers.

It is little wonder that the Academy has earned a solid reputation as the pioneer military university in Africa. This no doubt justifies the nation’s huge investment in this institution. Let me, therefore extend my well deserved congratulations to the Commandant, staff and gentlemen cadets of the Academy on this memorable occasion.

For you, the passing out cadets, today marks the end of your very tough training in the Academy and the beginning of your career as officers in the Armed Forces. As you are aware, some of those who started the course with you discontinued because they could not withstand the rigours of the physical, mental and intellectual challenges which you gallantly endured.

NDA

I heartily congratulate you for the successful completion of your training. You have every right to feel proud and fulfilled on an occasion like this. Based on the high quality of training you have received here at the Nigerian Defence Academy, I have no doubt that you will have no difficulty fitting into the activities of the various Services into which you will be commissioned. You must therefore be prepared to play your roles as junior leaders in tackling the prevailing security challenges with guidance and supervision from your superiors who are discharging their duties with diligence.

Furthermore, the nation demands of you exemplary conduct and professionalism wherever you are deployed, be it locally on internal security operation missions or internationally in Peace Support Operation missions around the world.

Distinguished invited guests, permit me at this point to remind these young men and women that security remains the most important challenge in this Administration’s “Change” programme. The objectives our fight against terrorism cannot be realized without a credible and effective military. On your shoulders therefore lies the mechanism to drive the junior leadership in our Armed Forces. The Armed Forces of Nigeria have a world-acclaimed reputation for valour, resilience and loyal service.

As you will shortly be granted the highly coveted Presidential Commission, I urge you to emulate the good examples of your senior colleagues in the field. You must avoid any behavior that will tarnish your honour and dignity as commissioned officers. Your commitment and loyalty to the Armed Forces and the Nation must be total. You must strive to live up to the demand and expectations required of you.

I am aware that your training at the Nigerian Defence Academy has sufficiently prepared you to key into and become the main drivers of attitudinal change which remains a cardinal principle of Nigerian Armed Forces development process.