Parents Key To National Unity – NDA 38 Regular Course
http://www.newsportng.com.ng The 38 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has harped on the pivotal role of parents in fostering national unity, as panacea to instill values of togetherness in their children from tender ages.
This is as the Military Alumni advocated the need to have institutions across the country, such that can reunite people of different ethnicity, tribe and religion after a long period of time to share their wealth of experiences.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the 38 Rooms legacy accomodation, held in Kaduna on Friday, the Special Guest Of Honour, Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Gakolo Agada IV
stressed that national unity begins at home and as such parents must take responsibility for instilling unity and values in their children.
King Agada the IV who is also member of the 38 regular course, praised the NDA’s approach to promoting national unity, citing its ability to bring people together from diverse backgrounds, while noting that the core principles of discipline in the military should be replicated in various Nigeria’s institutions to promote national harmony.
Speaking on the need for the legacy accomodation and tree planting project, the monarch said that the event signifies that they have come a long way, and therefore think it necessary to come together as family, such that can be able to stand the test of time.
He said, “It shows clearly that we have come a long way. We were here 38 years ago as cadets and were fused together as one family we remained so till date as 38 years after and we consider it important to come here and leave a legacy that will stand the test of time which is to establish 38 rooms, Mess accomodations for the NDA mess and Golf course, such that will be useful to humanity for a long time to come.
“As a nation, we should try as much as possible to unite. But beyond that, I think parents should do that hard work of helping to groom their children in that direction because the foundation is so important NDA for instance for you to become a cadet you must be very young.
“If you are too old they know that you won’t change your ways so when you are young enough you are bendable, so I think that is the place where patents will need to start instilling the importance of togetherness in their children so that when they grow they will not depart from it. So national unity start from the home and an establishment like the NDA has been number one in that regard.
“So I think we may need to have more establishment like NDA across the country not necessarily as military but atleast should have that principle where people are fused together for some years no matter where they came from across the country. ”
Earlier, the Commandant of the NDA, Maj. Gen. John Ochai commended the Alumni Association, stressing that the initiative is in the right direction and should be encouraged.
Maj. Ochai avered that the Commandant will emulate the gesture, especially in the area of tree plantings that will serve as memorial to various sects. He also disclosed that one day, they will also plant trees for those who has paid the supreme price at the course of their assignment, for a memorial, stating that the Command has the vision to make the NDA a part of research in geography in nearest future.
