Kaduna: The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, has inaugurated the Queen Amina of Zazzau statue at the academy in Kaduna. Alongside this, Maj.-Gen. Ochai also inaugurated the Nigerian Defence Academy Officers Wives Association Secretariat and unveiled two vehicles. Additionally, the commandant inaugurated three four-bedroom flats for the senior staff of the academy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Ochai explained that the statue of Queen Amina, a 15th-century warrior queen, was established to inspire the cadets by exemplifying leadership, courage, integrity, determination, and bravery. These attributes, as recorded in the Kano Chronicles and supported by oral tradition, are qualities that the academy desires its cadets to embody.
Maj.-Gen. Ochai highlighted the significance of Queen Amina’s legacy by noting Africa’s historical examples of strong female leaders, long before the colonial era. He emphasized that Queen Amina’s reign covered a vast territory, approximately 400,000 square kilometers, which is about 40 to 50 percent of present-day Nigeria. This expansive control demonstrated her leadership and determination.
The commandant encouraged cadets to adopt these qualities, underscoring the importance of recognizing Queen Amina’s achievements within the region, including the current location of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State. The inauguration of the NDA Officers Wives Association Secretariat marked a significant transition from the old academy’s site at the Ribadu Cantonment to the permanent site.
Ochai also emphasized the importance of the newly inaugurated housing for senior staff, stating that ensuring their welfare would motivate them to perform at their best.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the academy hosted a Regimental Concert to honor Maj.-Gen. Ochai, who is set to transfer command to his successor, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, on Tuesday. The event symbolized the transition of leadership, with both outgoing and incoming commandants present.