Chief of Naval Staff tasks youths on career in armed forces

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo, has urged Nigerian youths to upscale their interests in choosing their career in the Nigerian Navy and other armed forces.

Gambo, who was represented by the Commanding Officer, Naval Base, Oguta, Imo State, Captain Aliu Umaru, accompanied by the Acting Commander and Education Officer of the Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Commander Samuel Ochepo, and other naval officers, stated this during the donation of educational materials under the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) project.

The project was aimed at boosting learning in the benefitting schools, namely: Umunoha High School, Community School, Umunoha, St. Paul’s Nursery and Primary School and Obeakpu Primary School in Umunoha, Mbaitoli Council of Imo State.

He appealed to them to eschew fraud, drug abuse, cultism, gangsterism and terrorism, stressing that the Navy was interested in creating an enabling environment to help build the capacity of the pupils and students, hence the donation to each of the benefitting schools six magnetic whiteboards, 12 dusters, six packets of the marker, 1,100 exercise books, 400 pencils and 400 rulers, as well as the construction of six toilet-block and sinking of independent solar power water project.

He also appealed to the civil populace to join hands with the armed forces to fight insecurity in the country.

“The Navy offers good career prospects for young Nigerians, not only to serve their nation with dignity and pride but also to ride the seas and the world from the vantage place of sailors.

“I, therefore, encourage the youths and students to seriously consider a career in the Navy. Apart from the Navy, you could also consider a career in any of the Armed services, the Army and the Air Force,” he said.

Responding, principal of Umunoha High School, Mrs. Uchenna I. Amaefule, lamented the state of dilapidation of the institution, saying: Please convey our request to the Flag Officer and the Commander to also assist us in the area of infrastructure.

“Our administrative and classroom blocks are dilapidated. Our science laboratories are nothing to write home about. Our teachers hang around mango trees in the compound after teaching, only to wait for the next lesson period to go to class. We don’t have where to settle down,” she said.

Governor Hope Uzodimma, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Sylvester Okorondudu, expressed delight over the donation of the materials and pledged to maintain a cordial relationship with the Nigerian Navy.