As part of activities kickstarting the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)60th Anniversary celebrations,the Commandant NDA, Major General JO Ochai, led Principal Staff Officers, Officers, Civilian Staff, Cadets and Youth Corps members of the Academy on an environmental sanitation exercise in Kaduna metropolis, where they cleaned streets and drainages around Ahmadu Bello Way in the heart of Kaduna.
The exercise which took place in the morning on Saturday, 3rd February 2024, and covered areas from Leventis Roundabout to Katsina Road Roundabout, saw the Commandant leading Academy staff to actively clean up the environment, both as a way of the Academy giving back to its host State and as an avenue to drive home the message of cleanliness to the society.
The Commandant Major General JO Ochai in his remarks at the occasion thanked the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency, Senator Sani Uba, and the people of Kaduna State for being a good host to the Academy and for the opportunity to contribute towards keeping the city of Kaduna clean and healthy. Major General Ochai also used the occasion to impress on business owners and those carrying out socio-economic activities within the State to actively contribute to fostering a clean and healthy environment in order to live, work and enjoy their surrounding with greater well-being.
Furthermore, he urged the Cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy to ensure that they always leave a positive impact on the society wherever they find themselves when they get commissioned into the Armed Forces, noting that that will help them to leave behind a positive legacy wherever they serve.
Responding to the Commandant's remarks,the Administrator/Commissioner Kaduna Capital Territory Authority, Samuel Aruwan, who was represented by Dr Umar Hairau, noted that the State Government was thankful and happy as NDA marks 60 years of its existence.He thanked the Commandant for the mass turn out of members of the NDA community to carry out the environmental cleaning, adding that it was the first of its kind in a long while. Dr Umar also emphasised the significance of the occasion and the importance of maintaining a clean environment.
The sanitation exercise is one of several activities lined up to commemorate the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Nigerian Defence Academy.Other activities include a Special Jumat Service, an Interdenominational Church Service, a Golf Tournament, Launching/Unveiling of NDA 60th Anniversary Emblem and Crest as well as presentation of long service awards to Academy Staff, 60th Anniversary Seminar and the Trooping and Presentation of Colours/Diamond Jubilee Ceremonial Parade, which is expected to draw a curtain over all the activities on 10th February, 2024.