By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Besides the statutory responsibilities of safe guarding the internal security of the nation as well checking external aggression,the Nigerian Army has also boosted the educational sector of Kogi state.
This they did by renovating blocks of classrooms, examination hall and administrative block of the Government Day Secondary,l Okenya in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Areas of the state.
In addition, the security institution also donated desks, exercise books and writing materials for over 95 students of the school, and offered free medical services for vulnerable residents of Okenya community and its environs.
Our Correspondent gathered that gesture is part of the Army Civil Military Cooperation(CIMIC) activities for the ongoing ”Exercise Enduring Peace.”
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Okenya on Wednesday, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, said the Nigerian Army had over the years had taken deliberate steps to give back to the society the cooperation it had received by way of social corporate responsibility.
According to him, the gesture was also in line with his vision to have a professional Nigerian army, ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.
Represented by the Commander, Headquarters, Command Army Records (CARs),Lokoja, Maj.-Gen. Okpe William Ali, the COAS said he had ensured that the army pay very close attention to the non kinetic aspects of their military operations.
‘’In this respect, the need to ensure that we have a good and cordial relationship with our civil populace and indeed, the host communties where we conduct our military operations, cannot be overemphasised.
”This cordial relationship necessitated the conception of this school renovation project which is very much in line with the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) drive of the Nigerian Army,” he said.
He stressed that the CIMIC was tailored toward bridging the communication gap between the civil populace and the Nigerian Army, adding that the projects were part of the several civil military cooperation related activities, executed in various parts of the country.
The COAS expressed optimism that the projects would alleviate the infrastructural deficits in educational sector in the communities in the area and complement government’s efforts towards improvement of education in the long run.
He stressed the hópe that the projects would serve the collective needs of all members of the community and its immediate environs.
The Army Chief noted that the Nigerian Army had enjoyed the support and cooperation of the good people of the communities, in its bid to surmount insecurity in Kogi State and Nigeria in general.
The army boss assured that the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, would leave no stone unturned in curbing the criminal activities and ensure the general security of Nigerians.
He appealed to the communities to see the project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian Army and their communities.
The Army General thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support to the Nigerian Army and for providing the necessary conducive environment for the army to carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
The COAS also gave lauded Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff for their necessary support and guidance to the Nigerian Army.
He commended the officers and men for their trust, loyalty and zeal to their father land, while remembering the sacrifice of their colleagues who had paid the ultimate price to bring peace to the country.
He thanked Governor Yahaya Bello and the good people of Kogi State for their unrelented support, partuclarly to the Nigerian Army and rged them to continue to live in peace and harmony as well as tolerant of one another.
In his remark,the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, eulogised the COAS for the impact the Nigerian Army was making as far as the CIMIC activities were concerned, especially in the state.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Science and Technology, Dr Gabriel Ottah, Bello stressed that education remained critical key to all manners of development in any nation.
He said that his administration had provided the enabling environment for education and other sectors to thrive in the state.
The governor recalled that the state government, in 2020,allocated 20 per cent of its annual budget to education sector, adding it had been increased in the 2022 budget to 30 per cent.
Bello commended the efforts of individuals and corporate organisations in ensuring quality education in terms of provision of infrastructure and other facilities to schools.
He, however, urged the students to be hardworking, obedient and law abiding, reminding them that such value remained the key ingredient to success in life.
”We know there is more to do, but we promise to do more. We assure that the welfare of teachers would be given adequate attention,” he promised.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. James Ataguba, the Chief of Army Standard and Evaluation (CASE), and a “son of the soil”, commended the COAS for his gesture towards the people of his community and its environs.
”Prior to the intervention of the Army, a few fiends and myself had commenced some works but because of the enormity of the work, the community sought the COAS intervention.
”This day, we are witnessing one of the results of an approval made by the COAS in the last quarter of last year, when he gave directive through the Army Headquarters Department of Civil Muitary Affairs to augment the renovation work at GSS Okenya,” he said.
Maj.-Gen.Ataguba thanked Almighty God for making the occasion a reality and giving the wherewithal, courage to start and complete the project successfully.
The traditional ruler of the community, Chief Sunday Haruna Akor, the Ochalla Attah Igala of Okenya, commended the COAS for the gesture towards his community while appreciating Maj.-Gen. Ataguba for making the community proud.
The Principal of the school, Mr John Amana, commended the COAS for the renovation and provision of desks, while appreciating Maj. Gen. Ataguba for facilitating the project, adding that the school now had a population of 85 to 90 students.
He, however, noted that the school needed more staff and provision of library, security, access road, pipe borne water, ICT house, electricity, among others.
The Reporters reports that asides the renovation and the free medical services, the army also donated ten pieces of exercise books and writing materials to each of the students.
The beneficiaries of the medical services, who also received free screening, drugs and treated mosquito nets, thanked the COAS for remembering the vulnerable at the grassroots.
Two of the beneficiaries:Patience Abu and Alimat Mustapha, expressed joy for the gesture from the Nigerian Arny and for distributing exercise books for their children.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of souvenir to the governor and the traditional ruler, by the CARs Commander on behalf of the COAS.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
