Nation
New GOC Charges Troops On Hardwork, Sacrifice
The newly posted General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Umar Musa, has taken over the Command with a call on troops to redouble their efforts for more hard work and sacrifice.
Taking over from the out-gone GOC of the Division, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Friday in Enugu, Musa assured that he would continue with the success strides of his predecessor.
He further promised to build on the success trajectory already established by Maj.-Gen. Lagbaja, who is now the GOC of 1 Division, Kaduna.
“I appreciate the out-gone GOC, Maj.- Gen. Lagbaja, for the innovations and successes he recorded while serving as the GOC.
“We will restrategise and beef up security and increase the tempo so that we can surpass what Lagbaja had achieved here.
“I will work with the commanders and seek their cooperation to see that all security threats are surmounted in the Division’s Area of Responsibility (AOR)”, he started.
Musa used the occasion to thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Faruk Yahaya, for the confidence reposed on him to be redeployed as the GOC of 82 Division after serving as the GOC of 81 Division, Lagos.
While thanking the troops for their sacrifice and dedication, the GOC said: “but, I must say that we have more work to do to stabilise the security of the Division’s AOR and deal with criminal elements”.
Earlier, Lagbaja commended the principal officers, Commanders, senior officers, officers and soldiers of the Division for their unflinching support during his 17 months sojourn as the GOC of the Division.
He said the troops of the Division had been exemplary and professional in dealing with issues of unknown gunmen, criminal elements and secessionist groups within the Division’s AOR.
“ must laud your gallantry and commitment to ensure that the South-East and other parts of the Division’s AOR remained secured”, he stated.
He, however, charged them to extend the same cooperation and hard work to the new GOC for him to succeed as well.
Maj-Gen Lagbaja went further to thank friends of the Division and the media for their goodwill and support to the Division while he served as GOC.
Highlights of the event include decoration of the new GOC with the Division’s signal, handing over of the Division’s flag to the new GOC and a group photograph.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
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.
