ABUJA – Senate President David Mark, Minister of Defence Gen. Aliyu Gusau and Indian High Commissioner, Mr Ajjampur Ghanashuam have lauded 50 years of defence cooperation between Nigeria and India.
The trio spoke during commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA),[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″]
which was hosted by the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Ajjampur Ghanashuam in Abuja.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Mark said NDA had made him and fellow officers to become better and more patriotic citizens ready to die in the defence of the country.
The senate president, member of Course 3 set of the college, said “NDA formed us into proper human [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
beings during our formative years.
“I’ve not seen a single officer from the Nigerian Defence Academy who cannot sacrifice his life for the [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
unity of this country and more than prepared to do so.
“I was once accused of singing too much about having a military background but the fact is that you can’t get the type of discipline you get from NDA from other institutions.
“Yes, a lot of Nigerians are educated, they’ve gone through the universities but many of them know nothing about leadership.
“, I think the leadership training you get from NDA is unique and it will carry you through your life”, Mark said.
Also speaking, Gusau, who belonged to the pioneer Course 1, commended Brig. M.R. Varma, the pioneer Commandant of NDA and other Indian instructors, for “impacting so much on our lives.”
The minister said many officers from the pioneer set had discussed the security situation in the country and what they could do to combat the insurgency in the North East.
He thanked the Indian Government and the Indian team that set up the NDA.
“Nigeria’s relationship with India started when we were under colonial rule. Our soldiers fought in the World War I and II together.
“Also during the independence, the Prime Ministers of India and that of Nigeria were good friends up to the time they died.
“So, the relationship between Nigeria and India will continue to grow from strength to strength”, he said.
The high commissioner, in his remarks, noted that although India collaborated with Nigeria to set up NDA, India still had much attachment to the college.
“When we thought of hosting this function (golden jubilee), I sat with my colleagues and discussed whether we should have it.
“It’s a Nigerian institution. Yes, we helped them to set it up but it is their institution.
“The immediate reaction was `it is as much ours as theirs. That’s what the instructors from India feel”, he said.
According to him, the golden jubilee of the NDA Kaduna is as much a celebration of commemoration for India as it is to Nigeria.
Ghanashuam offered to publish a book on the golden jubilee of NDA, which was established in January 1964 in collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gathering was attended by Mark, Gusau, Generals Joshua Dogonyaro, Zamani Lekwot and Azubuike Ihejirika, among others. (NAN)
