The Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa has called on Nigerians to remain united in tackling security challenges bedeviling the country.
Musa added that the nation was going through a lot at the moment, stressing that only citizens’ unity can make the country prosperous.
The CDS spoke at the graduation of 20 Barracks youths trained by Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) skill acquisition centre on Saturday in Abuja.
The defence boss also urged citizens to be proud of their country, vowing that the military would overcome adversaries working against the country’s progress.
According to him, “The country is going through a lot. Let us come together to make the country greater and overcome. Also, we must be proud of our country, no matter the challenges. For me, I am never shy to bring out my passport, whatever you have to say, say it. I am proud of my country and I know it will become better. The adversaries know this and that is why they don’t want us to succeed. However, all that is a lie. We put them to shame and succeed.”
Speaking, the DEPOWA President, Mrs Oghogho Musa, said the gesture was in tandem with the non-kinetic approach to winning the war against criminalities in the country.
She said, “The social intervention programmes being initiated are geared towards aligning with the non-kinetic campaigns of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. As we are all aware kinetic and non-kinetic campaigns are part and parcel of military strategies used to win the war against terrorism, banditry, and other forms of criminalities bedevilling our nation Nigeria.
“I must add that the starter kits that will be issued to you today is to encourage you to start your trade in order to support your academic endeavours. I look forward to seeing and knowing that you are all doing well in the areas of entrepreneurship. To be honest with you, there is a very limited jobs in the labour today, nations are embracing skills acquisition and vocational training to complement government efforts in providing jobs for the teeming unemployed.”
She urged the beneficiaries to ensure they use the skills acquired and starter kits given to them to become self-reliant, industrious, and above all employers of labour.