By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Commander, Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA), Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe, has distributed educational materials to schools in Minna Military Cantonment in Niger, in the second series of the TRADOC Educational Support Programme.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, TRADOC, Lt.-Col. Sani Uba, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Uba said that Aligbe made the symbolic presentation of some of the materials at the closing of the TRADOC Library organised by the Directorate of Army Training Support Centre (ATSC) in TRADOC.
He said the event had the theme, “Enhancing Research Potentials and Reading Culture of the NA Personnel through Effective Use of Library”.
The commander said the gesture was introduced to subsidise the educational expenses of personnel in Minna Military Cantonment and the contiguous communities who had children in the schools.
He said that a total of 31,000 Note Books and more than 19,000 writing materials made up of biros, pencils, rulers and erasers were produced and presented to the pupils and students of all the schools for the 2024/2025 Academic Session.
Aligbe said that over 80 per cent of the 7,200 children and beneficiaries were students and pupils from outside the cantonment.
He added that the initiative was also one of the Civil-Military Cooperation efforts of his command in support of NA’s efforts towards shaping and winning the hearts and minds of communities where the army undertake operations.
In his remarks to participants of the Study Period, Aligbe said that library was a veritable platform to get new ideas and information.
He, therefore, urged them to use the library facilities provided by the army to boost their intellectual and research potentials and use it as a platform for engaging with contemporary issues related to library resources.
According to him, the forum came at a time when all efforts were geared towards training, research, and innovation as well as the educational development of army personnel.
Earlier, the Director of ATSC, Brig.-Gen. Victor Ita, said that libraries had faced challenges such as low patronage and a lack of modern reading materials.
He urged participants to engage openly during the discussions, aiming to develop strategies that would enhance the library’s effectiveness and accessibility.
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and the Commander TRADOC for their support in organising the event. (NAN)