MAJ GEN IM YUSUF ASSUMES DUTY AS 31ST COMMANDANT OF NDA
Following the recent redeployment of senior military officers and in a bid to reposition the Nigerian Armed forces for optimal performance, A new Commandant, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf has officially assumed duty today as the 31st Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
Major General IM Yusuf took over from Major General SA Yaro the 30th Commandant, who is now to proceed on a Course in Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
Addressing the Principal Staff Officers, Deans and Heads of Departments during the Handing Over ceremony, the outgoing Commandant, Major General SA Yaro, described the new Commandant as a regimental and thoroughbred Armoured officer who is endowed with vast exposure and experience, which he expects will be brought to bear in running the affairs of the Academy.
He also assured the staff that Maj Gen IM Yusuf will continue with the extensive ongoing infrastructural development in the Academy, as well as sustain the improvements that have been achieved in the quality of training of cadets under his own tenure as Commandant.
He wished Gen Yusuf good health, God’s guidance and wisdom in the discharge of his duties as Commandant, while also soliciting for support from military and civilian staff of the Academy for the new Commandant. Maj Gen SA Yaro further highlighted some of his achievements as Commandant to include the development of various infrastructural projects across the Academy and marked improvements in the grooming and training of top quality cadets that are professionally responsive to the present challenges and equipped to meet both current and future needs of the Nigerian armed forces.
Responding, Maj Gen Yusuf thanked almighty God and expressed his appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, for finding him worthy of the appointment as Commandant of the Premier Military University in the West Africa. He also applauded his predecessor on the various ongoing developmental projects in the Academy and for the innovative ideas he adopted during his tenure as Commandant NDA. Furthermore, he pledged to continue with the general improvement in the affairs of the Academy, towards achieving the mission and vision of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Maj Gen IM Yusuf therefore, urged staff of the Academy to embrace team spirit in order to succeed in the important task of producing a well trained officer cadets for the nation.
General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf is a seasoned armoured officer in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps and a member of 37th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy. He has held several appointments cutting across command, staff and instructional in the Nigerian Army. Some of which includes Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, as well as National Defence College Abuja. He was a Registrar at NDA, Deputy Director Force Generation and Director Campaign Planning at Army Headquarters Department of Operations and General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army. Notably, Gen Yusuf has served in various capacities in NDA as Instructor, Officer Commanding Equitation Wing, Military Assistant and Registrar. Before his posting to NDA as Commandant, Maj Gen IM Yusuf was the Chief of Operations Nigerian Army. Prior to that, he was the Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force N’djamena, Chad.
Highlight of the event was the signing of the handing and taking over notes, decoration of the incoming Commandant with the NDA insignia and hoisting of the Academy flag which marks the symbol of new authority in the Academy.
