The
canteen of the Army War College of Nigeria has on Tuesday been named
after a gallant female soldier, late Sergeant Folusho Fagbemiro.
The late Fagbemiro died after a brief illness on June 14, 2021.
At
the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, Commandant, Army War College, Maj.
Gen. Solomon Udounwa described the late Fagbemiro as a personnel of
Nigerian Army Corp of Supply and Transport who served at the Catering
department with distinction and was a good ambassador of the Corp.
The Commandant was represented at the ceremony by the Director War and Strategy, Brig Gen Umar Alkali.
He noted that the posthumous honour was in recognition of the deceased's service to the College.
Udounwa
stressed that the event goes beyond the symbolic unveiling of the
building but rather expressed the affirmation of gratitude that felt for
the late colleague.
He added that the gesture in honour is in
keeping alive the legacy for the deceased's enormous contribution to
the College and the Nigerian Army in general.
Udounwa opined that the ceremony will inspire military personnel to emulate Fagbemiro's dedication to duty.
"Late
Sergeant Fagbemiro achievement would not have been possible without the
love and commitment of her family members and loved ones. You all share
in her tremendous legacy and certainly in this celebration today, the
Commandant added.
Maj. Gen. Udounwa, therefore, thanked the Chief of Army Staff for approving the name change which makes it possible for the epoch event.
"This is a clear demonstration
of the Chief of Army Staff's commitment to honour soldiers and officers
who serve fatherland with distinction".
The Commandant
declared that the College under his leadership would continue to
celebrate the sacrifice of gallant personnel wherever and in whatever
capacity they serve the nation.
"We would honour the dead as much as we celebrate those who will be standing tall at their duty posts.
Appreciating
the gesture, the husband of the deceased, Mr Fagbemiro, described his
late wife as a gallant soldier who was dedicated to her job;
God-fearing, kind and caring strong woman.
He thanked the COAS, the Commandant, Officers and soldiers for the kind gesture.
"Deep
in my heart, I know she is happy today for this great honour. The Chief
of Army Staff and the Commandant Army War College Nigeria have shown a
great quality of a good leadership. What Nigerian Army has done is
priceless," he said.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army
Staff who was the Special Guest of Honour, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya,
represented by the Commander Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Maj. Gen. Bolaji Salami described the day as special.
He noted
that the event marked the second edifice the Nigerian Army was naming
edifice after personnel of the Nigerian Army Corp of Supply and
Transport in one year.
On the 18th of February 2021, the Nigerian Army Corp of Supply and Transport Officers' Mess was named after Brig. Gen. Hope Yakubu, who as at today remained the only senior officers that was killed in the North East Operations.
"It is
important to point out, that naming this building in her honour is
indeed the high tribute, but the memory of Sergeant Folusho Fagbemiro
lives on, not simply on the structure but in her enduring spirit of duty
and service to others," he noted.
He urged other Sergeants on
the solemn occasion, to honour her memory by emulating her spirit of
hard work and commitment to the ideals she once lived for.
