Nation
NDA Matriculates 453 Cadets Of 73 Regular Course
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), yesterday matriculated 453 cadets of its 75 regular course in Kaduna.
The event which was the 10th matriculation of the institution featured an oath taking by the cadets to mark their formal induction into their respective academic programmes.
The Special Guest of Honour and a former Academy Provost, NDA, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi, urged the cadets to take their academics and military training seriously as they were complementary to each other.
“It is interesting to note that cadets who excel in academics invariably excel in military training, hence the need to embrace the two lines of training with all seriousness,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the 21st century warfare and military imperatives required innovative and creative minds founded on intellectual and technical skills.
“Today officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria are graduates. It is remarkable that the forces now recognise the value of university education,” he said.
Abdullahi urged the cadets to be focused, disciplined, hardworking, patient, persevering and determined, saying that the temptation to abandon their training was always high at the first year as they grappled with a new environment.
The Commandant, NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said that the cadets had already commenced their military training based on a revised curriculum designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills to deal with the emerging threats confronting the country.
“In the past eight weeks, the cadets have undergone rigorous military training designed to condition them to be mentally sound and physically fit to participate in a tough regime of military training and academic education.
“They also met the basic physical fitness requirements of completing 30 push-ups in one minute, 40 sit-ups in the same period and running up to 6.4km in 35 minutes,” he said.
Yusuf said that the cadets would undergo five-years training with the academic programme culminating at the end of the fourth year.
He said that the academic scope of the academy had been expanded to accommodate new faculties, departments, programmes and packages believed to be pertinent in the development of the armed forces.
He warned them against indiscipline, examination malpractice and brutality.
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.
-
Politics5 days agoPDP Vows Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers Over Defection
-
Sports5 days agoNigeria, Egypt friendly Hold Dec 16
-
Sports5 days agoNSC hails S’Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong
-
Politics5 days agoRIVERS PEOPLE REACT AS 17 PDP STATE LAWMAKERS MOVE TO APC
-
Politics5 days agoWithdraw Ambassadorial List, It Lacks Federal Character, Ndume Tells Tinubu
-
Oil & Energy5 days agoNCDMB Unveils $100m Equity Investment Scheme, Says Nigerian Content Hits 61% In 2025 ………As Board Plans Technology Challenge, Research and Development Fair In 2026
-
Sports5 days agoFRSC Wins 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League
-
Sports5 days agoMakinde becomes Nigeria’s youngest Karate black belt