The Nigerian Army has charged its troops on peacekeeping missions to make positive contributions in the lives of the people they serve in their mission areas.
Chief of Operations, Major General Uwem Bassey gave the charge at the pre-deployment graduation ceremony of troops of Nigerian Company 4, ECOWAS stabilization support mission in Guinea Bissau, held at the Martin Luther Agwai International leadership and peacekeeping center Jaji, Kaduna State.
Major General Uwem Bassey explained that the graduation ceremony showcases the collective resolve to uphold the principles of the ECOWAS and ensure the safety and security of communities.
Represented by Major General Nansak Shagaya, the Chief of Operations also charged the troops to let the values of courage, integrity and professionalism instilled in them to guide their actions, inform their decisions, and shape their interaction with the host community.
He noted that the current security situation in Guinea Bissau is relatively stable, with some underlying tensions that require attention to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens.
Major General Bassey therefore charged the troops to embody the principles of discipline, impartiality, respect for human dignity and to strive to make positive contributions in the lives of the people.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant of the Martin Luther Agwai International leadership and peacekeeping center, Major General Ademola Adedoja disclosed that earlier this year, the center successfully trained two streams of troops, which are the United Nations interim security force 3 for Abyei and ECOWAS mission in the Gambia.
He maintained that the Pre-deployment training was designed to equip the troops with the necessary expertise to confront the harsh realities and most challenging nature of peace support operations.
Major General Adedoja charged the troops to be of good conduct and desist from engaging in acts that could compromise their integrity or tarnish the image of Nigeria.
A total of One hundred and seventy-three troops graduated after undergoing a five week intensive training.
Highpoint of the event were troops display, presentation of pre-deployment certificate to the contingent commander, as well as presentation of awards to deserving personnel.
Cov/Usman Sani.
