Four hundred and fifty Armed personnel, including operatives from Gambia and Cameroon have graduated from the Second Quarter Course of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) .
Chief of Accounts and Budget (Army), Major General Adetokunbo Fayemiwo, stated during the graduation ceremony of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration Second Quarter Course at NASFA Auditorium.
Fayemiwo commended the Republic of Cameroon and Gambia for their effective liaison and commitment towards improvement on the military aspects of their countries’ bilateral relations with Nigeria. He said two officers from Cameroon and one soldier from Gambia participated in the course.
He also congratulated the graduands from allied brothers and sister African countries, noting that their successful attendance of their members of the armed forces from Cameroon and Gambia in NASFA has fostered a better relationship between the countries.
He urged them to use the knowledge and experience gathered to strengthen true African brotherhood as well as promote international peace and cooperation.
Fayemiwo also stressed the importance of the 12- week training, adding that mission-oriented and realistic training will enable the Nigerian Army to win all land battles and confront other security threats in the country.
Explaining further, the Army Chief of Accounts and Budget said he has placed training as a pivotal cardinal of his mission statement, which is to bequeath a Corps that is “proactive and proficiency in delivering financial services to support the Nigerian Army in accomplishing assigned missions in defence of Nigeria.”
He added, that his mission statement is aimed at enhancing transparency in all Nigerian Army Financial transactions, improve compliance with extant regulations and minimise waste in defence expenditure, likewise reempasizes the role of NAFC in the dynamics of the transition of public financial management policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the need to optimize goals of the corps in support of the Nigerian Army in all phases of war.
According to him: “Developing highly skilled and competent officers and men at all levels will effectively confront the ever-changing 21st century security challenges.
He charged the graduates to remain good ambassadors of NASFA by exhibiting the highest standards in both professional and personal conduct.
Fayemiwo emphasised that NAFC will continue to engage in training and retraining of personnel both in the school and other platforms with an overriding commitment to optimising the vision of the Chief of Army Staff and a better security architecture for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He called for synergy among all military and para-military security agencies, in order to defeat the insecurity challenge confronting the country.
Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration, Major General Julius Osifo, disclosed that 405 students, including armed forces personnel from Gambia and Cameroon, graduated in the second quarter in Seven different Course.
Osifo, while revealing that the Second Quarter Course was the First time International Students will be participating in training in NASFA, added that courses include Classroom trainings. Field Exercise, Practical tests and Study Tour with the famous Exercise Cowry.
Read Also: Soldiers involved in extortion won’t go scot-free, Army chief warns troops
Assuring that graduands are better trained and equipped with knowledge and everything required to soar to the highest of their carrier , Osifo explained that Nigerian School of Finance and Administration(NASFA), the training arm of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps, has produced 5,089 graduates with National Diploma and Higher National Diploma respectively including personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police and other security and para-military agencies.
He stressed that NASFA is the only school in the entire Nigerian Army that trains Clerks for all orderly rooms across Nigeria.
Osifo said the school presently conduct two major courses, first in the academic programme were the NASFA awards National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Accountancy, and Office Technology and Management.
He stressed that the courses are permitted by the National Board for Technical Education to train personnel and award the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in both Accountancy and Secretarial Studies which is now redesigned as the Office Technology and Management.
He informed in addition to the academic courses, NASFA conduct upgrading courses for Finance, Clerk and Record Clerks, record clerk duties and has recently introduce Chief Clerk Course for twelve weeks.
He pointed out the courses taken during the second quarter course include Command Division Finance Account Course, Staff Officer Grade 2 Payment Course, Young Officers Course ( for officers) and Nigerian Army Chief Clerk Course, Clerk General Duties Basic 2 Course, Record Clerk Basic 2 Course and Financial A3 Course (For Soldiers)
In their goodwill messages Lt-col Albert ELONG, Deputy Defence Attaché Cameroon and Commordore Assan Sarr, Defence Adviser to Gambia High Commission- Abuja commended NASFA for the implementation of organised mission oriented training in the school, lauded the successful attendance of members of their armed forces( both Cameron and Gambia)at the various courses in the school which they said will promote international peace and cooperation as well as strengthen true African brotherhood.
The Defence Adviser to Gambia High Commission, Sarr said training of Gambia armed forces by NASFA in clerical couses will enhance strong bi lateral ties, revealed that Gambia has benefitted from the capacity building programme with the Nigerian Arms and Security Services.
The Deputy Defence Attaché Cameroon Lt-Col Albert ELONG, commended NASFA for its Mastery of resources on how to solve logistic issues, as well custodian of values and knowledge.
He urged graduands to represent NASFA well ensuring the efficiency, accountability and sustainability of all military activities and operations as well as make contributions to the Financial and Administrative sectors of their respective commands and units.