As COAS receives Kwame Nkurumah award
Stories by Musa Umar Bologi
Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that the Nigerian Army is going to strengthen its existing ties with Bangladesh National Defence College to enhance professionalism.
The army chief said this when he received a delegation from the college on a courtesy visit in his office at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, at the weekend.
Buratai, who is a Fellow of the National Defence College of Bangladesh, said the college and the Nigerian Army had a long history of mutual relationship in the area of defence.
He said Nigeria would not hesitate to continue with the existing relationship for the progress of the two countries.
Buratai told the delegation that when his administration came on board, the first priority was to see how they could change from being on the defensive to offensive in tackling insurgency.
“Our mandate is to first of all defeat the insurgents. We have achieved that feat. We have rescued over 2000 abducted persons and we have been able to rescue two of the Chibok girls,” he said.
“We have also succeeded in providing medical outreach to some communities and IDPs camps. We have sunk bore holes to provide water to communities in these areas.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has bagged the prestigious Kwameh Nkurmah Leadership Award by the All African Students Union (AASU) for his exemplary leadership commitment to duty and the fight against insurgency in the North east.
The Award was presented to on Friday at the Army Headquarters, Abuja, by a delegation of the Executive Committee members of the union from various African countries and institutions led by its Nigeria Country representative and the Secretary General of union, Amb. Akinyele Olasumbo.
According to Olasumbo, the award was to enable them join other well-meaning individuals and organisations to appreciate the leadership style, patriotism and commitment of the COAS, which he said has brought about peace and security in Nigeria.
He said the award was to also encourage him to do more to clear out the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.
The leader of the union explained that the award would also spur other African leaders to ensure peace and stability of the African continent.
The union had representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire and Ghana.
