THE Nigerian Army has warned students across the country against involvement in drug abuse, cultism and cybercrime so as not to jeopardise their lives and truncate their dreams.
Education Corps Commander, Maj. General Bello Tsoho, Army Headquarters, spoke during the graduation and prize giving day of Command Secondary School, Suleja, where a total of 325 students took part.
Highlight of the event was the public presentation of two books authored by students of the school, one, ‘Anthology of Poems’ as well as the unveiling and launching of the students’ Magazine ‘The Face of Time.’
Also, various categories of awards were presented to students who distinguished themselves with outstanding academic performance during the 2023/2024 academic session. Some staff also received various categories of awards for hardwork and diligence.
Tsoho, Education Corps Commander, who was represented by a former Director-General of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Maj. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, raised concerns about high number of Nigerian youths who are on drugs, and warned the students against indulging in habits and social vices that could terminate their lives prematurely or destroy their family name.
He particularly urged the graduating students to be focused on developing essential skills and resilience as they embark on their new futures.
Tsoho added that success could only be achieved through hardwork, urging the students to avoid cultism and fraudulent activities.
While urging them to be good ambassadors of the school, he advised the students not to compare themselves to others, but learn from the successes of others and avoid actions that could damage their reputation, school, or their parents.
“You must work very hard. Shun cultism and avoid yahoo-yahoo, it does not pay. Avoid cutting corners and don’t compare yourself with anyone, rather learn from how successful people made it. Shun any act that will tarnish your name, school and the parents, rather we want to hear positive news from you.
“You must cherish discipline, hard work and your integrity,” he added.
He further charged parents to make time to check on their children by surprising them occasionally to see who they are communicating with and the nature of those conversations. Failing to monitor them, he said, could lead to regret in the future.
Also, Maj. Gen. Raymond Ochei, in his part, warned the students against using the Command Secondary School uniforms to post on social media as military officers, urging them to follow due process if they want to enlist in the military.
He implored the graduating students to promote peace and harmony in the country, reminding them that the future of Nigeria lies in their hands as youth and as such they were obligated to contribute their quota to the development of the nation. “Nigeria is the only country you have,” he stressed.
Also speaking, the guest lecturer, Professor Adam Okene Ahmed who is the Provost of National Defence College, Abuja, said education is a tool for knowledge, saying the foundation that has been given to them at the Command Secondary School should be able to guide them in the future and help them make it in whatever area that they chose to go.
Ahmed commended the students for producing a magazine which he noted would prepare them to be good journalists and creative writers, “unlike those going to the social media and dishing out lies.”
He maintained that the knowledge the students acquired from the school in the last six years had built their capacity and the skill to contribute to the transformation of the society, while also urging them to embrace lifelong learning.
He charged them to set goals and objectives that are smart, realisable and achievable while being resilient in upholding the good character traits learnt from the school.
“You have to start thinking about what sort of skills or professionalism that you need. It is also important for you to imbibe mentoring tips such as life-long learning which will determine what kind of environment you are in. You have to continue to learn new ideas as it is the key to success.
“Secondly, you need to have goals. Set goals to what you want to achieve and object to them because you are going into the world to meet people that are smart. It is important to also develop resilience in whatever you want to do.
“You must maintain integrity; integrity is very close to reality and truthfulness. People should be able to say this person who graduated from Command Secondary School can be trusted,” he said.
Earlier, the commandant of the school, LT Col. Rufai Aliyu, in his address said the event also marked the 20th anniversary of the school and also the end of the 2023/2024 academic year.
The graduation ceremony, he said, is one of the activities scheduled annually since the inception of the school.
“This event is to celebrate this year’s graduates, the school’s 20th Anniversary as well as the launching of a magazines and books written by our students.
“The graduation ceremony also serves as an avenue to reward hard work and diligence among staff and students. The school has so far witnessed tremendous progress in academics and infrastructural development.
“It has also put in so much effort and measures to raise students who can confidently compete academically and fit in anywhere in the world,” he said.
