Federal Government has re-iterated its commitment towards sustaining the tempo of funding and infrastructural facilities to ensure conducive learning environment at the Nigerian Defence Academy-NDA.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the pledge in a message at the thirty-first convocation ceremony of NDA for cadets of regular course sixty-eight, post-graduate students and honourary degree awardees held in Kaduna.
Represented by Defence Minister, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi retired, the Vice President explained that as the foremost military University and a citadel of learning in sub-saharan Africa, government shall spare no effort to sustain the continuing development of the Academy.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo noted that the present administration had embarked on a vibrant educational campaign, and was pursuing policy initiatives that would create awareness, reduce the incidence of illiteracy and help improve livelihood in the society.
He pointed out that the federal government was also striving to banish child labour, domestic violence, and enforce free and compulsory education for children up to junior secondary school level.
Vice President Osinbajo urged the NDA to accord priority to modern disciplines that bother on sound military thought and philosophy relevant to contemporary need rather than curriculum requiring argumentative judgements and mere regurgitation of facts hypothesis and theories.
Earlier, Commandant of the Academy Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf said over the years, the Academy has made its mark as the foremost military university in sub-saharan Africa through its contribution to human development in military and academic circles.
The Commandant urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of NDA where ever they find themselves.
A total of two thousand Eight hundred and five graduands comprising two hundred and forty-nine cadets and two thousand, five hundred and fifty-six post graduate students participated in the convocation ceremony.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to deserving cadets, post-graduate students as well as honourary doctorate degrees on Alhaji Aliko Dangote and post humous doctorate degrees on late Alhaji Ahmed Joda and former chief of Army Staff, late Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru.
Cov/Usman Sani.