By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Army Directorate of Physical Training (DAPT) on Thursday unveiled the statue of Late Maj. Salisu Ndakoji (also known as Nda) in recognition of his immense contributions to the physical training of army personnel.
The ‘Statue of Nda’ was unveiled by the pioneer Director of DAPT, retired Col. Anthony Asilue, at the closing of the Directorate’s Officers’ Conference 2023, in Abuja.
Asilue described Ndakoji as a symbol of physical fitness in the Nigerian army.
He said that the late Major played significant role in taking physical training in the army to greater heights.
“Nda was one of the early officers in the corp which was just a training department as at then.
“His picture was taken during training as if he was on a high horse, which was one of the things we used for training then.
“We have it at the school in Zaria and now that we have moved the directorate’s headquarters here, another one is done here in commemoration of Nda.
“He retired a Major before he died,” Asilue said.
The ex-director who said the DAPT had been committed to physical training of army personnel,
He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya for his support in the last two years.
Asilue said a lot of transformation had taken place in the area of capacity, equipment and infrastructure.
“We are getting courses now; army personnel are being trained and retrained, and if the directorate had been like this over the years, the army would have been fitter than what it is now,” he said.
The Acting Director, Brig.-Gen. Oluwole Fawole, said efforts must be made to conduct physical efficiency test for the troops at the frontline, especially in the North East.
He thanked the resource persons and discussants at the conference for the insightful lectures and discussions.
The conference was attended by past heads of the directorate and other retired senior army officers. (NAN)