The Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences Offa on Friday conducted its 2020 Passing Out Parade (POP) and Graduation ceremony for the Final year and the 42 Basic Medical Qualifying Course (BMQC) students.

This year’s POP/Graduation ceremony was remarkable in that the School is graduating its maiden HND Dental Therapy students; Other graduating students are Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Radiography technicians in addition to the 42 batch BMQC students.

The ceremony was graced by the Special Guest of Honour, the Kwara State Executive Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas GSS AM psc (+) ndc Msc, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command Rear Admiral Fredrick Funebi OGU was the Reviewing Officer of the ceremony with Director of Naval Medical Sciences, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lawan Modu Adams as the Guest of honour.

Dignitaries from all works of life including the representative of Kwara State Commissioner of Police, the Director of State Security Services, the 22 Armoured Brigade Commander and other Service commanders in the State also graced the ceremony.

The Oloffa of Offa was also represented at the occasion by the High Chief Ojomu of Offa, and several Royal fathers in Offa and environs also graced the ceremony.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the reviewing officer urged the graduands to be good Ambassadors of the School and the Nigerian Navy in the discharge of their duties.

He implored them to remain disciplined and always adhere to the ethics of the medical profession as well as the Nigerian Navy’s core value of hard work, integrity and professionalism.

Rear Admiral Fredrick Funebi OGU reminded the graduands of the principal role of the Nigerian Navy, which is ensuring the safeguard of Nigeria’s maritime environment for sustainable territorial defence and national prosperity. He further reiterated that the responsibility requires the deployment of robustly trained and medically fit personnel to professionally and efficiently discharge their mandate in line with international best practices.

Accordingly, their graduation has again contributed to the implementation of the vision and strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff.

Their graduation also demonstrates their painstaking sacrifices and willingness to contribute their quota to the delivery of quality health care services to the Nigerian Navy and the generality of the people of Nigeria.

The Reviewing Officer was delighted that although the exigencies of COVID-19 pandemic has restricted their practical experiences this year to only military medical facilities in Lagos, it has, however, not affected their overall performances in both theory and practical aspects. Rather, it has allowed them to learn more of the pandemic and other public health-related issues which will help them in the performance of their professional duties in any medical facility.

The Reviewing Officer further appreciated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, through the Chief of the Naval Staff, for his tireless provision for the Nation’s Armed Forces and the Nigerian Navy in particular.

He applauded the Honourable Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of other Services and Security Agencies who have provided invaluable support to consolidate the training of our graduates and reassured them that the CNS had taken necessary actions to emplace requisite infrastructure and resources to improve the learning environment in the School.

Finally, the Reviewing officer commended the Commandant, Captain Ayodele Ogunniyi Olowolagba and his team of Instructors and staff for utilising the available resources to raise the standard of training in the School.

He also appreciated His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, and the good people of the State and Offa and its environs in particular for their support and cordial relationship with Nigerian Navy and NNSHS in particular.