Nation
Olonisakin Pulls Out Of Service, Hails Military
The immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, yesterday in Abuja, officially pulled out of the Nigerian Army in a parade at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro.
Olonisakin, pulled out following his retirement and appointment of his successor, Maj.-Gen Lucky Irabor, by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26.
As part of the military tradition in honouring a retiring CDS, the event involved a march past by the officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
It was attended by the Minister of Defence, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, members of the National Assembly, Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, current Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Irabor and other services chiefs.
Others in attendance were the traditional ruler of Ode-Ekiti, as well as representative of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
In his valedictory remarks, Olonisakin thanked President Buhari for counting him worthy to command the nation’s armed forces in the last five years.
He said that his appointment as CDS came at time Nigeria was confronted with several security challenges like Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.
Olonisakin said that confronting those threats was his major pre-occupation as CDS.
According to him, prior to his assumption of command along with the immediate past Service Chiefs in July 2015, the Boko Haram terrorists held sway in parts of the North East.
“Our immediate challenge on assumption of office was to flush out the Boko Haram and restore Nigeria’s sovereignty over these occupied territories.
“Gratefully, with the support of the political leadership, particularly Mr President, Commander-in-Chief, and indeed all Nigerians, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, under my leadership was able to reclaimed territories that were hitherto under the control of the terrorists.
“While the security threat posed by the Boko Haram is still being contained, the Armed Forces of Nigeria have, in the past five years, continued to develop capacities to contain insurgency and other asymmetric threats to our nation,” he said.
Olonisakin also disclosed that the military under his leadership had been transformed from being inexperienced in asymmetric warfare to building enormous capacity.
He said that the military had gained valuable experience in fighting asymmetric threats.
According to him, the current capacity to defend Nigeria has transited from fighting conventional war on land, sea and air alone, to capacity to contain threats to the country in the cyber security and information domain.
“We have, therefore, built a solid foundation on which the current, and indeed future generations of Nigerian military commanders, can build on in the performance of their constitutional roles of defending our dear nation from both external and domestic threats to our corporate existence.
“The five and a half years of my tenure also witnessed transformation in the organisational structure of the Defence Headquarters,” he said.
Olonisakin commended the immediate past service chiefs and Chief of Defence Intelligence, over their efforts and sacrifices, adding that he felt proud to command, co-ordinate and direct the armed forces in the last five years.
The former CDS also paid tribute to the departed heroes who had laid down their lives in defence of the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He expressed confidence that he handed over the command of the military to a competent successor, who had commanded the MNJTF and Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, among other strategic positions the military.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
