Afaka, Nigeria – Maj Gen Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, a highly respected military officer, was honored by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) with a Pulling Out Parade on June 26, 2023, as he retired after an impressive 33-year career in the Nigerian Army. The symbolic event, held at the NDA headquarters in Afaka, marked the formal conclusion of his service, which included numerous command and staff appointments, culminating in his role as the 31st Commandant of the NDA.
In his valedictory speech during the Pulling Out Parade, Maj Gen IM Yusuf expressed his gratitude to past Commandants of the NDA, Principal Staff Officers, staff, and cadets for their unwavering support throughout his tenure as Commandant. He acknowledged the significant contributions of his predecessors in laying the foundation for the growth and development of the Academy. Maj Gen Yusuf credited the Academy staff, instructors, and soldiers for their selfless service and commitment, emphasizing that their dedication had contributed to the success of his tenure.
Reflecting on his military journey, Maj Gen Yusuf shared that he began his career at the Nigerian Military School in Zaria in 1980 before joining the NDA in 1985. He fondly recalled his experiences and achievements throughout his service, highlighting his involvement in peace support operations in Liberia under ECOMOG between 1993 and 1996. Notably, he served as Brigade Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade during Operation ZAMAN LAFIYA and as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 7 Division during Operation LAFIYA DOLE, where he led the division during Operation DEEP PUNCH, considered the largest and most successful counterinsurgency operation in the Northeast Theatre.
Maj Gen Yusuf emphasized his close connection to the NDA, revealing that prior to his appointment as Commandant, he had served in various roles at the Academy, including as an instructor, OC Equitation Wing, Military Assistant to the Commandant, Acting Adjutant, and Academy Registrar. He expressed that serving as Commandant of the NDA and retiring from this esteemed position had been his professional ambition, and he considered it the highest goal in his military service. Maj Gen Yusuf praised the members of the 69 Regular Course and 70 Regular Course as the best-trained cadets from the Academy, emphasizing that the Academy had been reconfigured under his command to produce junior leaders capable of addressing current and future security challenges in the nation.
During his tenure, Maj Gen Yusuf oversaw several infrastructural projects at the NDA, including the completion of long-abandoned projects and the initiation of ongoing ones. Notable accomplishments included the construction of an 800-capacity cadet hostel, five blocks of science laboratories, a Hall of Fame, staff accommodations, a sports complex, an arms store for cadet battalions, cadet brigade headquarters, officers’ quarters, and soldiers’ quarters. Additionally, there were projects such as civilian quarters, an NDA-NAF base link road, perimeter fortification, a state-of-the-art athletics track, and a parade ground. Maj Gen Yusuf also mentioned ongoing projects, including a 2.5MW solar power plant, a 600KW solar plant for cadet lines, primary and secondary schools, and new department building complexes.
Maj Gen Yusuf attributed his successes to the support he received from the NDA Governing Council, former Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), former Chief of Defence Staff General LEO Irabor, and the former Service Chiefs.
