Take a fresh look at your lifestyle.

NDA moves to make French Language compulsory for military officers

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Collaboration with the French Government, on Thursday, inaugurated a French Language Support Project, to make military officers in the country proficient in French language.

The commandant of the academy, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, explained during the inauguration ceremony in Kaduna, that proficiency in French language was strategic because of the operational environment of the Nigerian Armed Forces in Africa.

According to him, the goal is to enable personnel of the Nigerian military to be more efficient in playing their roles during peace support operations around the world.

He said that the project had commenced with the youngest Cadets of the academy, the 17th Regular Course.

“Within the next four years when they graduate, each of them will be proficient in French language and from then on, all military officers, who graduate from NDA will be fluent in French.

“This is very crucial to the success of our operations, particularly in peace operations and the ongoing counter terrorism, where we engage with military officers of French speaking countries,” he said.

Oyebade thanked the French Government for the support, which include reading materials and financial support, to undertake important programmes in other French speaking countries.

He said that the support would be sustainable but subject to yearly evaluation, adding that the French government had promised to ensure the success of the project.

Related Posts

Eden Venture Group holds summit

MAN, NLC raise the alarm as more companies shut down

Also speaking, Mr. Jerome Pasquier, France Ambassador to Nigeria and Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), who described Nigeria as an important country in Africa, said that the partnership was strategic in military operations.

“We were very happy when President Muhammadu Buhari directed all Nigerian military officers to learn the French language and we felt we have a duty to ensure the attainment of the goal.

READ ALSO: Angola shut 34 Churches

“This is very important because of the existing excellent cooperation between the French military and those of other French speaking countries in Africa and the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“As a strategic country in Africa, Nigeria has continued to play important roles in ensuring peace and security in many African countries and we are on the same side in the fight against insurgency.

Pasquier pointed out that proficiency in French language would strengthen collaboration and coordination between the two countries especially in the area of military operations.

He thanked the commandant of the NDA for ensuring the successful inauguration of the projects, which he described as the beginning of more collaboration between the Nigerian Government and the French Government. (NAN)

 

Comments
Loading...