On June 17, 2023, the indigenous people of Augie Local Government Area in Kebbi State gathered in large numbers to witness the commissioning of a recently built primary school by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya. The college is one of the several civil-military cooperation projects being carried out nationwide under the COAS Special Intervention program.
The COAS thanked the residents of Sabon Gari and all of Kebbi State at the commissioning ceremony for helping the Nigerian Army carry out its constitutionally mandated duties, especially in supporting civil authorities and reestablishing peace and order across the country.
Major General Godwin Micheal Mutkut, the General Officer Commanding the 8th Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Joint Taskforce (North West) Operation HADARIN DAJI, spoke on behalf of the COAS and emphasized the Nigerian Army’s commitment to carrying out beneficial initiatives in several areas. These initiatives seek to build links between the Nigerian people, especially the beneficiary communities, and the Army by providing much-needed help. The non-kinetic strategy used through these projects has greatly aided the Army’s ability to tackle the many security issues the country is currently experiencing.
Major General Mutkut underlined that the Special Intervention Civil-Military Cooperation Project of the COAS was established to aid communities connected to serving senior officers of the Nigerian Army who have attained the level of Major General. The chosen Project Executor implements the projects after consulting with the host community. The initiatives include a wide range of topics, including building roads, renovating hospitals, drilling boreholes, building schools, and providing town halls and other social amenities for communities.
Major General Mohammed Lawal Augie and the residents of Augie Local Government Council deliberately designed the construction of the primary school in Sabon Gari, consisting of two blocks with six classrooms each, offices, and restrooms, as a way to honor the retiring General. In his capacity as the Project Executor, Major General Augie stated his optimism that the newly built school will help the residents of Sabon Gari access a basic education. With the school open, fewer kids will be absent from class and will travel shorter distances to attend schools that are farther away. He expressed his appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff for acting quickly and stressed the importance of such initiatives in providing education to every part of the country.
The Nigerian Army’s commitment to community development and its dedication to promoting education in Nigeria are both demonstrated by the commissioning of the recently built primary school. It is an example of the Army and the neighborhood working together to promote access to high-quality education and provide a conducive learning environment for kids.
