The Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL 2019, was rounded off on Saturday, July 6 with a campfire night at the 63 Brigade Headquarters Asaba.
It brought to a close a week long programme which featured environmental sanitation, free medical outreach, special thanksgiving services in churches and mosque among other services.
The Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Usman Bello, who traced the origin of the Nigerian Army, said it was founded in 1863 by Lieutenant John Glover of the Royal Navy under the name, Glover Hausas, to defend the then Lagos colony and later metamorphosed into the Nigerian Army in 1963 when Nigeria became a Republic.
General Bello said in its 156 years this year, the Nigerian Army had remained a disciplined and professional Force, in the defence of the Nigerian territory against external aggression, noting that many gallant soldiers had paid the supreme price in the first and second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War and Peace Keeping Operations involving the Nigerian Army.
The Brigade Commander said NADCEL 2019 was meant to honour the fallen heroes and the officers and men currently in service for their roles in tackling emerging comtemporary security challenges in the country.
He stated that the campfire symbolized the culture of wisdom and knowledge, adding that it was designed to provide warmth and a platform for interaction and socialisation in a friendly atmosphere with the resemblance of a rural setting.
General Bello urged the civilian populace to see the Nigerian Army as partners in progress and be willing to give useful information on persons and groups that posed threats to public peace and order in the community.
In a keynote address by the Special Guest of Honour the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Mr Chiedu Ebie, noted that the activities that took place during the week long Army Day Celebration recorded an improvement in what obtained in the past.
Mr Ebie, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SSG, Mr Jerome Morka, commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Army for their selfless service and sacrifice to the nation and called on the people to support them to ensure a more successful soldiering.
The SSG also commended the commandant, officers and men of the 63 Brigade for helping to improve security in Asaba and the environs and pledged the continued support of government for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the state.
The event, which was attended by the State Commissioner of Police, Adeyinka Adeleke and representatives of other security agencies and paramilitary organisations, featured the lighting of the campfire by the representative of the SSG, words of wisdom and jokes from the invited guests.
The July 6 date of the Nigerian Army Day Celebration coincides with the day the Nigerian Civil War started in 1967.
The campfire is part of the NA social activities which gives troops an opportunity to express themselves through songs, poetry, drama, among others, at the end of training, operations and exercise.
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