From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede has charged members of the 88 Regular Recruit Intake (RRI) at the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria to remain prepared at all times to be part of the fight against terrorism, and insurgency in the country.
The recruits had undergone military training from January to June 2025.
Reviewing the Pass Out Parade (POP) of the 6,195, newly recruited soldiers yesterday, Lt. General Oluyede admonished them that wherever they are deployed, their actions must be a reflection of their training to display courage in the face of adversity.
“As you pass out today (yesterday) and take your place in this noble profession, be aware that you will form part of our nation’s solutions to the challenges of terrorism and insurgency. Therefore, wherever you are deployed, your actions must be a reflection of your training and you must display courage in the face of adversity. Some of you will be given responsibilities as you rise through the ranks. While these responsibilities will take different forms, a commonality with duties or tasks in the army is that your actions collectively determine the life or otherwise of you and your comrades. In essence, you cannot afford to be found wanting at any time.
“In addition to expressing the core values of the Nigerian Army, you must be trustworthy and committed to a currency of excellence, determination and selfless service. On my part as your Chief of Army Staff, I will ensure that you have the tools to execute your tasks and your welfare is my topmost priority as espoused in my Command Philosophy.
“Today marks a milestone in the lives of these young men and women who have successfully completed their basic military training at this prestigious institution. They are in the final phase of stepping through a rite of passage and upon filing out of this parade ground they will earn their place among the ranks of the gallant few who have the honour of being soldiers of the Nigerian Army. As the saying goes, “the journey of thousand miles begins with one step”, so did the journey of these courageous few which began on 13 January 2025 upon commencement of their basic training which culminated to this very day.
“To the young soldiers that stand before me, today is not just another day of the year, but a day that will dwell significantly in your memory and your families’. For you, the journey of sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and commitment to the service of our dear nation has just begun. The Nigerian Army is a professional institution tasked with the mandate of securing the sovereignty of our great nation, Nigeria.
“However, our duties have traditionally extended beyond our national borders and we have played significant roles in ensuring peace and security in the West African sub-region, the African continent and other parts of the world. Essentially, you all have become stakeholders to this noble mandate, and more importantly, you are now part of an age-old tradition in the midst of a long line of brave men and women that are ready to give their all to uphold this mandate.
“Indeed, the life of a soldier is that of sacrifice, and victories are forged in the foundry of sacrifice. Hence, during the course of your duties, you will be faced with challenges that may initially seem insurmountable but I assure you that you have been prepared for anything the world will throw at you. However, you will need to remain focused and remember your training, because in your darkest moments, courage, professionalism and resilience will form the compass that will lead you to your finest hours.
“In such times, I want you to understand that you are never alone because you will always stand together with comrades, friends and brothers in arms in this unique society that is the Nigerian Army. To this end, I charge you to stand by the oath you have taken and do your duty without forgetting our core values of discipline, loyalty, integrity, selfless service, courage and respect for others, the COAS said.