BY GERTRUDE ONYEKACHUKWU-UTEH
QUALIFIED Delta youths have been charged to apply into the 77 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA.)
The Director-General of the Delta State Orientation and Communication Bureau, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, gave the charge while speaking at a live radio programme, “Orientation Panorama,” at the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba.
Oghenesivbe disclosed that interested Deltans are encouraged by the NDA and the Delta State Government to apply for recruitment into any regiment of their choice in the military.
He said the application and admission process will be on till 30th April, 2025, adding that successful candidates after four years of academic programme and one-year military training would be commissioned as flying officers into either the Army, Navy or Airforce.
He explained that only interested applicants who satisfy a minimum of 210 points for Engineering Courses and 180 points for Arts and Social Sciences in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are eligible to apply.
He stated that the training is both military and academic and would last for five years; the first four years for the degree, while the fifth year is for military training.
He added that the sum of ₦7,000 only is needed as remittal fee to enable prospective candidates apply online through NDA Website: ndaapplication.net, advising applicants to make NDA their first choice.
“This sensitization has become very necessary to make Delta youths develop interest in enrolling into the military and paramilitary organizations. We have been short changing ourselves for so long. When the roll call of Generals, Major-Generals, Inspector-Generals etc. are called, Delta will not be there, he added.
“These are the reasons His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevewori, set up a state committee to create awareness to re-orientate Delta youths on the need to join the military and other paramilitary organizations of government for even representation. The military wrote to the state that we are not taking up our quota.
“It is important we change the narrative and that we take up our quota and slot. The military is a pensionable service. In the past one year of the present administration, 450 Deltans are off the labour market. They have been recruited into the military. If we continue like this, we could have up to 2,000 personnel in the military in the next two years,” he enthused.
He said that successful candidates will be invited for screening exercise on the 24th of May, 2024 at Army Day Secondary School, Nigerian School of Transport and Support, Ugbowo, Benin City in Edo State.
