After 33 years of Service, Course 27 Regular In-take of Depot Nigerian Army celebrate Anniversary; Pray for enemies of Nigeria to be defeated; Honour widows of departed colleagues.

Appreciative Members of the 27 Regular In-take of the Nigerian Army, whose journey into the force started in October 1988 at the Depot Nigerian Army in Zaria, on Saturday January 8, 2022 converged at the Armed Forces Warrant Officer’s and Sergeant’s Mess, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja to celebrate with their family members and glorify God Almighty for his grace in their lives. 

By then, there were 19 states in the federation and three thousand (3,000) young Nigerians drawn from all the geo-political zones of the country were recruited into the Depot with actual training commencing on 3rd January 1989.

At the end of the training, out of the 3,000 in-takes of Course 27, who passed out of 18th June, 1989, under the tutelage of late Major Gen Musa Bamaiyi (then Commandant Depot NA as a Colonel), 17 of the soldiers is not make it.

Since then, Course 27 Regular In-takes have gone on to break commendable  records in the annals of the Nigerian Army and have continued because of not only the training they got but also due to the grace and intevention’s of God in their lives.

President of Course 27 Regular In-take, Master Warrant Officer Joda Umar and the historian of the group Master Warrant Officer Collins Ebebi during their speeches disclosed that out of those remaining, the Course has produced over 500 Master Warrant Officers for the Nigerian Army which is a record.

In the last promotion examinations to the exalted positiin of Army Warrant Officers, Course 27 in-take produced 14 out of the 25 AWO’s that were selected and promoted in the Nigerian Army and as at today, Course 27 in-takes have several Regimental Sergeant Majors including the number 1 RSM at Defence Headquaters and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) which is the numero uno for training in the NA.

MWO Joda further said, “Today we are marking 33 years in service and using the opportunity to give glory to God because 33 years is not 33 days. So many of our colleagues could not make it to this day. It is not their wish but the will of God”.

“As the 27 Regular In-take celebrations coincides with the anniversary of the armed forces of Nigeria, let us pray for the repose of the souls of our fallen colleagues by giving them a one minute silence in their honour.

Joda also promised the widows of their colleagues that members of Course 27 Regular In-take would not forget them as some tokens including bags of Rice, Vegetable oil, and cash were presented to some of them.

The executive members had earlier visited ophanage’s and other homes for the needy and presented items towards cushioning the hardship in the country.

At the colouful ceremony, some members of Course 27 In-take who were later commissioned into the officer cadre of the Nigerian Army including Lt. Colonel Adediran Olubunmi Obembe and Lt. Col Etobore as well as Lt. Col AA Abubakar displayed nostalgic momments with their Depot Colleagues.

In his goodwill message, Lt. Col Obembe, who is the Commanding Officer, Armed Forces Electrical and Mechanical Workshop (Afeame), gave glory to God for allowing them to be alive to witness the celebration.

He said, “A journey that started 33 years ago is worth giving thanks to God. It is really the grace of almighty God that has made it possible because today, many of our beloved colleagues ate no more.

Noting that nobody envisaged that the nation would be experiencing the type of challenges the nstion is going through today, Obembe solicited for loyalty, dedication and prayers for the Service Chiefs and the military to overcome the challenges.

“Let us jointly pray that our country’s enemies will be defeated. Let us pray that insurgency will be defeated because if insurgency and our country’s enemies are defeated we won’t be having widows of our colleagues.

Chairman, Organizing Committee of the Anniversary, MWO Ubong Willie Ndaeyo, in his vote of thanks commended Course 27 Regular In-take for the unity and togetherness that has existed among them over the years and prayed God to successfully see them through the remaining period before they proceed to the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi for disengagement from service.