CDS Charges Passing Out Cadets, Nigeria Comes First And Always
The Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede, has charged passing out cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy to uphold national interest, demonstrate courage and resilience, and embrace innovation as they commence their careers as military officers. General Oluyede gave the charge as Special Guest of Honour at the NDA Regimental Dinner Night held on Thursday, September 18, in honour of the passing out cadets of the 73 Regular Course, Short Service Course 49, Direct Short Service Course 34 and Branch Commission Course 3, held at the NDA Cadets’ Mess, Afaka, Kaduna State. Reflecting on his own experience at the Academy about 34 years ago, the CDS described the occasion as a significant milestone marking the culmination of rigorous military and academic training that transforms cadets into disciplined, service ready officers, commending them for their hard work, sacrifice and dedication. He reminded the soon to be commissioned officers that the Armed Forces of Nigeria represent the unity and sovereignty of the nation, stressing that Nigeria comes first and always, and urging them to uphold courage, diligence and loyalty to their fatherland as many prepare for deployment to operational theatres. The CDS further charged the cadets to remain adaptable and technologically savvy given the changing nature of modern warfare, noting that Artificial Intelligence, unmanned systems and cyber operations were increasingly shaping the contemporary security environment. On leadership, General Oluyede stressed the importance of trust, integrity, dedication and sound judgement, advising the cadets to seek guidance from experienced officers and ensure that their actions reflect the shared values of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. He informed the cadets that their decisions would not only shape their own careers but also have consequences for the organisation they represent and the personnel under their command, urging them to think carefully before taking decisions. The CDS acknowledged the Commandant, staff and instructors of the Academy for preparing the cadets for the responsibilities ahead, while expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Defence and the entire NDA Council for their support to the Armed Forces. Highlights of the regimental event included the presentation of awards to deserving cadets during the 2025/2026 training session and the presentation of souvenirs to the Special Guest of Honour by the Commandant of the Academy. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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