Army chief, Buratai bags Kwame Nkuruma Leadership award

Army chief, Buratai bags Kwame Nkuruma Leadership award
Abdulkareem Haruna

The Chief Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has been awarded the prestigious Kwame Nkuruma Leadership award by All Africa Students Union (AASU) in their appreciation of his leadership commitment and fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

A delegation of AASU Executive Committee, led by the union's Secretary General, Ambassador Akinyele Olasumbo, presented the award to General Buratai at the army headquarters, Abuja on Friday.

The delegation, according to a statement issued by the acting director army public relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, appreciated that "the Nigerian Army troops are doing well in the North East, and acknowledged the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians as well as international organizations in the fight against the insurgency".

Adding that "terrorism is a global problem that must be tackled to enable development thrive in the continent. He promised to accomplish the task of President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure normalcy returns to the North East"

Mr. Akinyele explained that the union which had representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote D'Ivoire and Ghana further explained that the award would also spur other African leaders to ensure peace and stability of the African continent.

The pan African students union said the award was to enable them join other well meaning individuals and organizations to appreciate the leadership style, patriotism  and commitment of the COAS which brought about peace and security in Nigeria. They further stated that the Award was to also  encourage him to do more to clear out the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.

"In his acceptance remarks, the Chief of Army staff said he dedicated the award to all his officers and men who contributed in the successes recorded in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram.

"General Buratai, thanked the Union for the award and said he was very elated and deeply humbled to be associated with the name and virtues  of the highly revered African leader, the late Doctor Kwameh Nkurmah Prime Minister of Ghana as manifested in the Award  and dedicated it to all the Officers and Soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their selflessness and commitment to duties that brought about this and may other accolades"

"The COAS urged all African youths to focus on their studies, adding that it is the basis for the overall socio-economic development of the African continent.

"He also urged them to always respect elders, constituted authorities  and contribute positively in order to change Africa for the better", said Colonel Usman'.