Self-discipline Lasts Longer, Says Gen. Akale To Graduating Cadets

Lt-Gen Abel Akale (Rtd), has tasked 260 graduating cadets of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), 68th Regular Course, on discipline, as they prepare for their career in the Armed Forces.

Akale, who gave the advice Saturday during Commandant Luncheon in honor of the cadets, reminded them the discipline that lasted longer was “self discipline.”

Akale, a one time Commandant of the Academy, was the Guest of Honour at the occasion.

He said the purpose of the luncheon was not only to wine and dine, but to interact and guide the graduating cadets, thereby enabling them to tap from the wealth of experience of retired and serving senior officers.

“I urge you to get as much as you can from your interactions to chart a better future for yourself in the military.

“While we are rightly gathered here to recognize and celebrate your success, it is but only the start of your careers as potential officers in the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” he said.

He explained that the baton of responsibility for leading and inspiring troops, which is the very essence of being a commissioned officer, was just about to be handed over to them.

“It is both an immense privilege and a daunting challenge but I have no doubt that you have been adequately trained and prepared for the challenge ahead,” he added.

Akale  congratulate cadets for enduring the exhaustive training that spanned a period of five years, saying the  reward  was the Presidential Commission into the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“As Commissioned Officers, you are leaders of men, while good leadership is often difficult to define, it is in a way, easy to recognize.

“Be the good leaders that troops can risk their lives to follow even in the most dangerous circumstances.

“If you cannot attain this virtue at any leadership role, you are nothing but an individual taking an aimless walk in the park, “Akale further admonished.

Earlier, the Commandant of the Academy, Maj-Gen Ibrahim Yusuf, had pledged to countinue to trained cadets to global standard.

Yusuf told the cadets that discipline and loyalty  remained the bedrock of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

A total of 260 NDA cadets, made up of 130 from the Nigerian Army,  73 Navy and 67 from the Air Force.