Guarantee our territorial integrity, Mark urges armed forces

President of the Senate, David Mark, has reminded the armed forces of its sacred duty of holding in trust for the Nigerian people the nation's military might and be the ultimate defender of its territorial integrity as well as independence against all adversaries.To achieve these objectives, Senator Mark tasked the military leadership to double efforts in the training of personnel, upgrade equipment, institutions, improve research and development in tandem with global development of military capability.These were contained in his acceptance remark after he was conferred with honorary doctorate degree of Political Science by his alma mater, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna at the weekend.At the ceremony, the President of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was awarded doctorate degree of Management Science while former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, received honourary Doctorate Degree of Letters.Senator Mark noted that the nation was passing through security challenges but pointed out that, "these challenges are, indeed, not insurmountable if we collectively come together to confront it. It could be seen as a passing phase in the nation's tortuous journey to achieving an enduring democracy."We recognise the fact that the armed forces has played significant role in maintaining peace and order in the present dispensation and must be encouraged to do more by way of capacity building and upgrading of its equipment and materials."To the graduates, he enjoined them to enlist in pioneering the new push at rebranding the Nigerian Armed Forces as a modern corps adding that "you must always see your responsibility as an honour to fatherland and endeavour to lay solid foundation upon which future generations of officer corps would build upon."The president of the Senate reassured the Armed Forces that the National Assembly particularly recognizes the strategic role the military has been playing in sustaining the present democratic order saying," we shall continue to provide support for the development of our armed forces to guarantee your welfare and enhance professionalism". Recalling with nostalgia his days as a Cadet at the NDA, Senator Mark stated " I have always counted myself privileged and eternally grateful to God to have passed through this foremost military academy that prepared me to face the vicissitudes of life and made me what I am today."This honour therefore has a special place in my heart and I will cherish it for the rest of my life". Senator Mark graduated from the NDA in 1969/70. He belonged to the 3rd Regular Course.
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