FORMER CDS COMMISSIONS LEGACY PROJECT BUILT BY 40RC AT NDA AFAKA
…As Wives of 40RC Embark on Health Outreach at NDA Hospital,
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal OO Petinri, was at the Nigerian Defence Academy today, 5 September 2023, to commission a Legacy Project donated to the NDA by members of the 40th Regular Course (RC) of the NDA.
The Legacy Project is an edifice comprising 9 offices, four of which are ensuite, 9 large classrooms, one multipurpose hall, a library, 14 toilets and a large store. The entire project was conceived and constructed by members of 40RC and donated to the NDA for its use.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) Air Chief Marshal OO Petinri praised members of 40th Regular Course for their foresight and commitment towards completing and donating such a project to the Academy and encouraged other courses yet to donate a Legacy Project to NDA to consider doing so. He observed that the 40RC Legacy Project is of a higher quality than many projects executed by contractors.
Air Chief Marshal Petinri also commended the immediate past Commandant of the NDA, Maj Gen IM Yusuf, under whom this Legacy Project and the previous two by 37RC and 39RC, respectively were actualized. Chief Pentirin also commended the Commandant NDA, Maj Gen JO Ochai, for his support towards ensuring 100% completion of project and its commissioning. He underscored the importance of good and visionary leadership, noting that it is key to achieving progress.
In his address during the occasion, Commandant NDA, Maj Gen JO Ochai described the Legacy Project as one of the best built edifices in the NDA recently. He therefore commended Air Vice Marshal AI Amodu, who was the Chairman of the Project Committee and also the past DY Comdt NDA. He noted that the building will be put to good use as the French Language Laboratory which he further noted that the contract for the furnishing and equipping of the project has already been awarded.
Speaking further, Maj Gen Ochai commended the SGOH, Air Chief Marshal OO Petinri, for his exemplary leadership in the Armed Forces and his selfless service to the nation. He added that there couldn’t have been a more befitting SGOH for the occasion. He complimented members of 40RC for inviting the former CDS, whom he noted stands out among past and present leaders of the Armed Forces for his military professionalism and dedicated service to the Armed Forces and the nation. The Commandant also extolled Maj Gen IM Yusuf, the immediate past Commandant, for laying the groundwork for him to succeed as Commandant NDA.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Legacy Project Committee, AVM AI Amodu who was also the DY comdt NDA while briefing the guests on the project, disclosed that the 40RC Legacy Project was selected after a careful review of 3 possible projects by members of 40th RC and that it was constructed through direct labour. He added that the site was an abandoned project that had laid fallow for 12 years, and that it required redesigning and additional construction to achieve the current legacy project. He thanked the past Commandant NDA, Maj Gen IM Yusuf, for giving approval for the work, and also thanked the Commandant NDA, Maj Gen JO Ochai for his support towards completing the project. He also thanked members of 40RC for their contributions towards the project and for their confidence in him as the Chairman Project Committee.
In a related development, Wives of 40RC, popularly known as Fabulous 40, in support of their husbands also embarked on a medical outreach to the NDA Hospital Ribadu Cantonment at the end of the project commissioning, where they donated various hospital equipment and supplies to the maternity ward of the hospital.
Presenting the donations, the President Fabulous 40, Mrs Isabela Okosun, disclosed that their action is an appreciation of how the medical centre and the Academy took care of their husbands while they were Cadets at NDA. She also used the opportunity to thank their husbands for supporting them into making the outreach a success.
The Commandant NDA, Major General JO Ochai, appreciated the members of Fabulous 40 for their contributions and assured them that the equipment will be put to good use by the hospital. He also appreciated their sister association, members of NDAOWA who were also present to support them.
Some of the equipment donated includes; Delivery Bed, Drip Stand, trolley, among others. Highlights of the events includes; inspection of quarter guard, presentation of souvenirs, planting of trees, tour around Ribadu cantonment and group photographs.
