Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), retired Admiral Ola Ibrahim, has urged members of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to sustain unity, professionalism and gratitude to God as they continue in national service.
Ibrahim gave the charge on Saturday in Abuja while addressing members of the Course at their 35th Anniversary Reunion Dinner.
He called on them to remain united and thankful to God as they serve the nation in strategic positions, noting that the gathering offered an opportunity for reflection and thanksgiving for their journey from officer cadets to senior leadership roles within the Armed Forces.
“Many of you are today senior officers holding strategic appointments. This did not happen by accident; it is the result of discipline, sacrifice and divine guidance,” he said.
The former CDS noted that military service demands perseverance and loyalty, adding that God’s grace had sustained officers through the challenges of their careers.
“This reunion should, first and foremost, be a moment of gratitude—to appreciate God for life, protection and the privilege of serving our nation,” Ibrahim said.
He urged members of the Course to continue upholding professionalism, discipline and integrity, while also mentoring younger officers.
“The positions you occupy today come with great responsibility. You must remain role models and uphold the core values of the Armed Forces,” he added.
Ibrahim also paid tribute to fallen colleagues who made the supreme sacrifice in service to the nation, describing their courage and patriotism as enduring legacies.
According to him, reunions of this nature help strengthen bonds among course mates and reinforce the shared values forged at the Academy.
Members of the Course, many of whom are top-ranking serving officers, also reflected on their journey and expressed gratitude to God for life, protection and career progression.
Earlier, the President of the alumni, Maj.-Gen. Eyitayo Oyinlola, said the bond forged during their years as officer cadets had been tested by time, strengthened by shared sacrifice and sustained by loyalty to one another and to the nation.
“We arrived as individuals, but we were moulded into a pack. Today, by God’s grace, the pack is reunited,” he said.
Oyinlola noted that although members of the Course had been dispersed across various commands, institutions and continents by duty and life’s responsibilities, the spirit of the Course had remained strong.
He said the reunion provided an opportunity for members to reconnect, relive shared memories and draw strength from one another’s experiences, while urging them to look beyond nostalgia and focus on continued relevance, mentorship of younger offi
