Retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has called on Nigerians to cultivate discipline, resilience, and civic responsibility, warning that the nation requires citizens with character, not merely soldiers armed with weapons.
Marwa made the appeal on Saturday night during the 38th anniversary reunion of the Nigerian Military School (NMS) Class of 1982 in Abuja, where he reflected on his formative years in Zaria.

“At NMS, no one asked who your father was, what language you spoke, or what faith you professed. We were bound by brotherhood and a common destiny as Nigerians,” he said.

Highlighting the achievements of the Class of ’82, Marwa noted that it produced two current Service Chiefs: Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff. “Our country today needs more than soldiers with weapons. She needs citizens with character — men and women armed with courage, loyalty, discipline and resilience,” he added.

Speaking on the significance of values beyond the military, leadership expert Mr Fela Durotoye encouraged alumni to emulate Africa’s historic liberation leaders. “In 1945, seventy-nine young Africans, most in their thirties, gathered in Manchester with nothing but conviction. Without firing a shot, they toppled colonialism. That is why history calls them the Great Generation,” he said. Durotoye urged the Class of ’82 to focus on creating value and instilling principles for future generations.

Retired Lieutenant-Commander Jim Bent, President of the NMS 82 Alumni Association, described the reunion as both a celebration of enduring friendship and a reaffirmation of commitment to national service. He recalled that the school moulded boys into men of discipline and resilience. “NMS is not just a school; it is a crucible where values are etched into our bones. Brotherhood for life is what has carried us to this day,” Bent said.

Bent recounted memorable experiences from their school days, noting that even moments of rivalry strengthened bonds among cadets. He emphasised the responsibility of alumni to contribute to national development. “The challenges of our nation call on us, the alumni of NMS, to stand up and be counted. Class of ’82, we are those men in the arena. From boys to men, from cadets to leaders, we have dared greatly and we continue to do so,” he said.

The reunion attracted alumni from across Nigeria and the diaspora, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa, and featured the adoption of ten pledges focusing on integrity, excellence, respect, and leaving a lasting legacy.

Marwa concluded his address by urging members of the public to remember that national security extends beyond military preparedness. “We can have armies and weapons, but if our citizens lack character, discipline, and a sense of duty, our nation remains vulnerable,” he said.