Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Alexander Ogomudia, has counseled retired service men and women to guard their health as they grow older.
General Ogomudia gave the advice on Saturday night at a dinner to round off the 50th anniversary of the NMS Ex-Boys Association September 1973 Set (The Elites) of Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Ogomudia, who is also an earlier alumnus of the NMS, recalled with nostalgia how the School started and commended the 1973 set for their vibrancy, urging them to keep the spirit up.
The former CDS implored the members of the NMS Ex-Boys Association September 1973 Set (The Elites) and other military retirees: “At this stage, your health is very important. Endeavour to be active. Once you cease to be active, you are on your way out.
“You must get involved in regular exercises to keep fit. That is a good way to be healthy.”
General Ogomudia also emphasized the important of their families which he admonished them to manage very well, stating that “at the end of the day, it is the most important thing to you.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the out-going President of the 1973 set, Rear Admiral Gabriel Okoi (rtd) told the gathering that it was a moment of great pride and honour for him to see so many familiar faces as well as those who have joined the Group for the first time.
According to him, “This Golden Jubilee Anniversary is a testament to the unwavering spirit, commitment and dedication of all Elites” (as the group calls itself).
“It is also an honour and privilege to stand before you all as the Chairman of Sep 73 Set (The Elites) on this special day of our lives. We are here to celebrate our Golden Jubilee as Alumnus of the famous Nigerian Military School, Zaria”, Okoi said.
In honour of members of the set who have died, Admiral Okoi called for one-minute silence for the repose of their souls and also thanked “God Almighty who has not only kept us alive but also granted us good health to be part of this memorable occasion.
“Over the years, we have faced challenges, triumph, laughter and tears, but through it all, we have remained united, bound by our common belief and desire to make a positive impact on the world around us.
“We have served as a beacon of hope and comfort to some of our classmates and juniors.
“We have witnessed the power of our association through countless acts of kindness and service. Indeed, we have shown that we are not just a group of individuals, but a family committed to making a difference,” he said.
Going down memory lane, Admiral Okoi said: “I can remember vividly when we assembled on 03 Sep 73 as Class One Boys. I can say that 98% of us were boys from poor families whose parents were just peasant farmers and some of us were house helps.
“We went through a lot of hardship which to some of us was nothing to write home about because we were not only being fed 3 meals a day but had monthly allowance to take care of our needs. Hence our parents had no cause to send us pocket money.
“We were beneficiaries of “UDOJI ALLOWANCE.” This could only be understood by those who are 60 and above in age. So, financially we were the Rich Guys but not spoilt guys around town in our various villages during Holidays.”
It would be recalled that Udoji Allowance or more popularly known as Udoji Award was a salary adjustment programme of the General Yakubu Gowon regime in the mid 1970s whereby the government increased the salary of its workers and backdated the commencement date by so many months. This enabled the workers to collect huge sums of money when the payment was effected.
Okoi went further to recall that: “Our set stands out academically, militarily and in civilian careers.
“We set a WAEC result record of 100%, a record that has not been broken till date. In the military, we produced 32 Generals including a CDS and directors in other civil organisations.
“This could not have been achieved without the dedication and support of our teachers and instructors some of whom are here today,” he stated.
Highlight of the occasion included cutting the golden anniversary cake and the presentation of awards to deserving members and guests.