Marwa Advises Nigerian Military School On Discipline, Hardwork, Patriotism

Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has charged the Nigerian Military School (NMS) boys to always uphold discipline, hard work, loyalty, and patriotism in everything they do during and after school.

Marwa, who delivered the charge as the special guest of honour and reviewing officer at the military school’s 70th Foundation Day parade, urged the boys to see the quality of education they received as a solid foundation for their future endeavours, while also warning them against substance abuse.

He stated that the school has made historic contributions in remoulding boys to meet the manpower needs of the Nigerian Army and other fields of human endeavours in the country at large.

Marwa addressed the Class 6 Boys, saying, “The quality of education and solid foundation you have gained in this prestigious institution is sufficient to serve as a springboard for your future endeavours. As a result, discipline, hard work, loyalty, and patriotism should always be your watchwords and guide your decisions. I wish you all the best with your current external exams.”

He told the other grade boys, “You must keep striving to maintain the level of discipline that NMS is known for.” I am aware that your commandant is firm and has refused to tolerate or spare any act of indiscipline in the school.”
He encouraged them to make a wise decision about their future by abstaining from substance abuse.

“Studies and personal experience have also demonstrated that drug abuse cannot solve any problem. Rather, it introduces new, complex challenges. The good news is that there is another side to drug abuse for young people: intentionally living a drug-free life by adopting positive and healthy habits. With the world at your feet and God by your side, you have the ability to make decisions about the kind of life you want to live from now on, as well as set valuable goals and take actions that will lead you to a safe and productive destination. As students at this prestigious educational institution, you bear the responsibility of living and adhering to the ideals and spirit that we have all proudly carried over the years,” the NDLEA president stated.

He stated, as a former boy and alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), that “the time has come for us to begin consideration for automatic admission of graduating NMS boys into NDA.”

While thanking the school administration for inviting him to serve as the reviewing officer for the 70th Foundation Day parade, Marwa recalled his own experience at the school. “From 1966 to 1970, I marched on this same parade ground as a boy. Indeed, I was one of two stick orderlies on the foundation day parade on May 20, 1966, when then-Lt Col Hassan Usman Katsina, the Military Governor of the Northern Region, presided over the parade. It is thus a great honour and privilege for me to stand before you today as the reviewing officer for the 70th Foundation Day parade of the Nigerian Military School (NMS), fifty-four years after my graduation,” he stated.

He praised the school, which was founded in 1954 and is tasked with training proficient young Nigerians to provide junior-level leadership in the Armed Forces, and stated that the NMS has made tremendous contributions to national development both within and outside of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.