CNS: Youths Education, Panacea to National Security

By Blessing Ibunge

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, has stated that the education of youths in any society is a panacea to development and national security.

Gambo spoke yesterday at the CNS’s annual inter-schools debate, quiz and STEM competition finals held at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the theme “Education as a Catalyst for Youth Development and National Security,” Gambo who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanusi Ibrahim, stated that the students showcased various levels of leadership in the future, have shown that they are able change today’s narrative a d move the country to an enviable statues

He said that the competition for the programme was carefully chosen to provoke critical and analytical thinking among the contestants with a view to improving the quality of education in the schools.

“The Year 2021 Competition is designed to provide a platform on which Nigerian Navy welfare Secondary Schools test their academic might, debate topical issues and showcase their ingenuity in science and technology. This is in consonance with the importance the Nigerian Navy places on youth mentoring and empowerment as preconditions for national security and nation building.

“I also took note of innovative projects displayed by the students during the STEM exhibition and must add that the objective for setting up the welfare schools have been met. The Naval Authority is indeed proud of the welfare schools. I must at this point add that the theme aptly captures the events of today for indeed, education is a catalyst for youth development and National Security. In this hall today, I see disciplined future leaders of our great country Nigeria, who would move this country to rank with other western countries by means of critical thinking, convincing deliberations and technology.”

Gambo further acknowledged the efforts of the Director of Naval Education and his organizing committee for a well thought-out and interesting programme, adding that the topics were carefully selected to reflect the present times.

He said that the inclusion of the STEM exhibition was apt.

Speaking with THISDAY, the Director of Naval Education, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Commodore Isa Ahmed, said that the school competition is part of programme lined up for the 65th Anniversary Celebration of the Nigerian Navy.

He stated that the programme availed the students opportunity to outline challenges facing the nation and to proffer possible solution to them.

Ahmed said: “The Chief of Naval Staff annual inter – schools debate and state competition is a concept that muttered in the year 2016 when the Nigerian Navy celebrated a jubilee year of our establishment and the celebration should not go without the children being carried along that is when we had the first outing. In other words, it is part of activities marking the annual Nigerian Navy week celebration.

“For this year’s outing, you will all agree with me that our dear nation is going through insecurity and it is education that has it all. For this year outing, the students were given the task to identify two issues that is challenge to our dear nation and they proffer insecurity and food security having in mind that our dear nation is going through issues of arm banditry, kidnapping nationwide. And we saw it where the children proffer solution, the school that came out first presented Automatic Irrigation system where in we are going to have food round the clock throughout the whole year.

“In other words, you will agree with me that education for a truth has proven that it is the catalyst for nation development. And to add flesh to that in terms of preferring solution to the insecurity that bedeviled us as a nation, so the school that provided houses that has security gadgets, they provided ships that can bring down any pose a threat to our dear nation. We saw them providing robot, they provided AUV vehicle wherein security men can go and face these arm bandits without being present.”

He stated that the benefit of the activity is enormous, adding that “the competitive spirit among the Nigerian Navy welfare schools to showcase their knowledge base, what they have been taught in the classroom. Also, to foster unity among the students of Nigerian Navy welfare schools.”

Ahmed Adejoke, one of the students from Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Kogi who spoke on behalf of the participants advised the schools that came fourth and fifth to have in mind that there are no losers, no winners knowing that their school motor is onward together.

One Nigerian Navy Military and 6 secondary schools representing the NHQ and 3 Nigerian Navy Operations Command competed in this year’s grand finale.