By Eseoghene Emuke
A total of 196 officers including nine army personnel have graduated from the Nigerian Naval Engineering College (NNEC), Sapele in Delta state with a charge to them to remain professional in the discharge of their duties as military personnel.
The graduands were also charged to improve on other skills beyond the technical training gained in the college so as to effectively tackle the nation’s security challenges.
The Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, gave the advice on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of the graduands.
Rear Admiral Enoch noted that the Nigerian military will require the knowledge of the graduands in addressing security concern in cause of their duty and to move the Nigerian Navy to self-sufficient service.
The graduands comprising 196 trainees of the Artificer Course (A30B and A32A), Automobile Mechanic Course 20, Basic Mechanic Course 31, 3rd Rate Driving Qualifying Course, 2nd Rate and 3rd Rate Firemen Courses to always respect superior authorities.
FOC, who commended the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas for the investments in infrastructure, military education, and other resources, stated that the college has recorded tremendous improvement in the training of its personnel.
While congratulating the graduands on the successful completion of their programmes, he further charged the officers to add value to the military and remain professional.
According to Enoch, “They have spent about four years and have been given the very best. This programme was interspersed with training attachment which also helped to enhance their skills.
“However, when they go into the field, they are going to meet their superiors who have been on ground, so on the job training is very key. A few of them may have some other skills to exploit, to further improve themselves beyond what they have been taught.
“They should also exploit personal abilities to add value to the Navy, so that overall, we will be able to have Nigerian content to maintain our ships and reduce our expenditure by importation from outside the country.
“They should realise that they have been in the training environment for a long period and going into the field, they should avoid temptations. They should also know that they could be deployed to perform duties order than just technical duties because they are military personnel first of all.
“And so, they must be disciplined, keep themselves away from trouble, from drugs and other vices that may reduce their work and value,” Rear Admiral Enoch advised.
The graduation ceremony also witnessed a parade compromising the 196 graduands, grouped into six divisions, was staged. It was inspected by the FOC, in company of the Commandant of the college, Commodore Samuel Yahaya.
