By Stephen Adeleye
Okene – The Nigeria Army has donated a block of four classrooms to the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies (CAISO), Idoji, Okene Local Government of Kogi State.
Aside this, the army also built a new principal’s office for the college and renovated its Assembly Hall and staff room.
Speaking at the projects’ commissioning on Friday in Okene, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) , Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya said the gesture was part of the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) intervention projects being executed by the Nigerian Army across the country.
Yahaya, who was represented by the Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records (CAR), Maj-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, said Nigerian Army had enjoyed high level of cooperation and goodwill from host communities and the Nigeria citizens.
In appreciation of this, he said the army had been taking deliberate steps towards ensuring that it gives back to the society the cooperation it enjoys from them by carrying out some corporate social responsibilities.
He said the donation of the projects was very much in line with the vision of “a professional Nigerian Army, ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.
“The project being commissioned today is one of the several Civil-Military Cooperation related activities and quick impact projects executed in various parts of the country by the Nigerian Army towards contributing to national development.
“Thus, I believe this project will serve the collective needs of the members of this community and its immediate environs.
“I, therefore want to appeal to you to see this project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian Army and your community.
“Let it foster the desired peace, progress and indeed bring prosperity to the community as well,” Yahaya said.
The COAS thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army and for providing the conducive environment necessary to carry out their constitutional mandate.
He further thanked the Minister of Defence Maj-Gen Salihi Magashi (rtd) and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor for providing direction and support to the Nigerian Army always.
He also commended Governor Yahaya Bello, the traditional rulers and all the good people of the community for their unrelenting support particularly to the Nigerian Army.
He urged the people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be tolerant of one another, stressing that the Exercise Enduring Peace ll, recently launched in the state was to ensure peace.
Speaking in his own capacity, Igbinomwanhia appreciated the COAS for sponsoring several of those projects in Kogi under his area of responsibility.
On his part, Maj. Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Director of Administration and Logistics Defence Research and Development Bureau, who executed the projects, thanked the COAS for his passion for education and financial commitment to the reality of the projects.
Dahiru said the project was a way of reaching out to his community noting that his father had so much passion for the school during his lifetime.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, thanked the COAS for the gesture towards his people, and for ensuring adequate security in the state.
Ohinoyi, who was represented by the Asema Ezuka, Dr Muhammed Isah, said the projects would go a long way in helping the community and the student for effective learning.
The School Principal, Mr Zakarriyau Ahmad, said he was overwhelmed by the donation of the projects, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the COAS as well as Maj-Gen. Dahiru.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of souvenirs to COAS and other dignitaries present.(vitalnewsngr.com)
