KADUNA, Nigeria – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has charged newly commissioned officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to constitutional democracy, professional integrity, and unyielding courage in neutralizing national security threats, declaring that the collective hopes of over 200 million citizens rest upon their shoulders, defense correspondents reported from Kaduna on Saturday evening, September 26, 2026.
The President delivered the charge during the Combined Passing Out Parade and Commissioning Ceremony held at the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Afaka, Kaduna State, which marked the graduation of cadets from the 73 Regular Course, Short Service Course 49 (Army), Direct Short Service Course 34 (Air Force), and Branch Commission Course 3 (Air Force).
Okay News reports that President Tinubu, who was represented at the military ceremonial review by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., formally admitted the graduating officers into the officer corps of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force, administering the traditional oath of allegiance.
Addressing the parade ground, the President highlighted the rigorous intellectual, physical, and tactical grooming that transformed the young men and women into commissioned commanders, commending the leadership of the premier tri-service institution for progressively aligning its academic and combat curriculum with contemporary operational realities.
“The Nation is counting on you,” President Tinubu stated in his charge to the subalterns. “As you step into the theater of service, you carry the constitutional mandate to uphold the territorial integrity of our fatherland, defend our democratic institutions, and ensure the safety of our citizens against banditry, insurgency, and all forms of violent crime.”
The Commander-in-Chief commended the NDA commandant, directing staff, and academic board for expanding specialized training in counter-terrorism, asymmetric warfare doctrines, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems, and joint operational planning.
He noted that modern warfare has evolved beyond conventional physical confrontation into high-tech, multi-domain environments that demand continuous intellectual agility, technological adaptability, and disciplined coordination among the armed services.
The President charged the young officers to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement, respect international humanitarian law, and maintain the highest ethical standards of discipline, selfless service, and institutional honor in their operational deployments across frontline theaters.
The colorful ceremony featured a dynamic ceremonial parade, the presentation of the Sword of Honour and service awards to outstanding graduating cadets, and the formal pipping and badge-presentation ceremony attended by proud family members and state dignitaries.
High-level dignitaries in attendance included the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Minister of Defence; the Minister of State for Defence; the Chief of the Defence Staff; sister service chiefs; senior military commanders; and national executive coordinators of the various military officers’ wives associations.
The newly commissioned officers will be deployed immediately to tactical training depots, maritime commands, and aerial combat wings across the country before integration into active joint task force counter-insurgency and internal security operations nationwide.
