By Stephen Adeleye
The Nigerian Army has constructed and donated a block of four classrooms with toilets to College of Arabic and Islamic Studies (CAISO) Idoji, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Farouq Yahya, handed over the project together with principal’s office and a renovated block of Assembly Hall and staff rooms.
Speaking on Saturday at the projects’ inauguration in Okene, the COAS said the gesture was part of the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Intervention projects executed by the Nigerian Army across the country.
The COAS, who was represented by the Commander, Headquarters Command, Army Records (CAR), Maj.-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, said Nigerian Army had enjoyed high level of cooperation and goodwill from host communities and the Nigerian citizens.
According to him, the Nigerian Army has over the years taken deliberate steps towards ensuring that it gives back to the society the cooperation it enjoys from them by carrying out its corporate social responsibilities.
He said it was very much in line with his vision of a professional Nigerian Army, ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.
“The project being commissioned today is one of the several Civil-Military Cooperation related activities and quick impact projects executed in various parts of the country by the Nigerian Army towards contributing to national development.
“Thus, I believe this project will serve the collective needs of the members of this community and its immediate environs.
“I, therefore, want to appeal to you to see this project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian Army and your community.
“Let it foster the desired peace, progress and indeed bring prosperity to the community as well,’’ Yahaya said.
Meanwhile, the COAS also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army and for providing the conducive environment necessary to carry out their constitutional mandate.
Yahaya commended Gov. Yahaya Bello of the state, the traditional leaders and all the people of the community for their unrelenting support, particularly to the Nigerian Army.
The COAS, however, urged the people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be tolerant of one another, stressing that the Exercise Enduring Peace ll, recently launched in the state was to ensure peace.
On his part, Maj.-Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Director of Administration and Logistics, Defence Research and Development Bureau, who executed the projects, thanked the COAS for his passion for education and financial commitment to the realisation of the projects.
Dahiru said the project was a way of reaching out to the community, noting that his father had so much passion for the school during his lifetime.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, thanked the COAS for the gesture towards his people, and for ensuring adequate security in the state.
Ohinoyi, who was represented by the Asema Ezuka, Dr Muhammed Isah, said the projects would go a long way in helping the community and the student to enhance effective learning.
Meanwhile, the School Principal, Mr Zakarriyau Ahmad, said he was overwhelmed by the executed projects, and expressed gratitude to the COAS as well as Dahiru. (NAN)
