Date Published: 08/09/09

Defence College honours Waziri, others …As she tasks Nigerians on anti-graft war  

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri, was among five eminent Nigerians honoured at the weekend in Abuja by the National Defence College for her dedication, commitment and outstanding contribution to the fight against corruption and economic crimes in the country.

The award ceremony which was chaired by the special guest of honour, President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, represented by the Minister of state for defence, Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu was the peak of graduation activities for course 17 graduates of the college. The EFCC boss who retired as an Assistant Inspector General of Police was a Course 6 graduate of the college.

Apart from Waziri, four members of the top echelon of the Nigerian military formation were also conferred with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. They include Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike, Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant General AB Dambazau, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral I Ibrahim, Chief of Naval Staff and Air Marshal O. O. Petinrin, Chief of Air Staff. The three foreigners who also received the award include Major General A. C. Nelson-Williams, Chief of Defence Staff, Republic of Sierra-Leone Armed Forces, Rear Admiral M. Quashie, Chief of Naval Staff, Ghana Armed Forces and Colonel O. Emile, Minister of Security, Burkina Faso.

Master of the ceremony, Bridger-General C. O. Esekhaigbe, told the large gathering of dignitaries at the event that the award was “reserved for products of the college who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field of endeavour.” His presentation on the educational and professional qualifications of Waziri drew intermittent applause from the excited audience.

Fielding questions from journalists after the event, Waziri said the award will spur her to get more committed to her current assignment of fighting economic and financial crimes in the country.

‘I appreciate the decision to give me the award, it is an inspiration and an encouragement to get more committed to the service of our fatherland especially the fight against all forms of economic crimes and corruption in this country which is my assignment at the moment. I am very hopeful we will succeed and that’s why we need all Nigerians to support us especially those of you in the media’, she stated.

A total of one hundred and five (105) officers received their certificates as graduates of Course 17 at the ceremony. They include 45 officers of the Nigeria Army, 19 officers of the Nigeria Navy, 22 officers of the Nigeria Air Force, two officers of the Nigeria Police, six civilians drawn from different agencies and 11 foreigners.

The graduation ceremony was witnessed by prominent Nigerians, members of the diplomatic corps and top echelon of the Nigeria military formation.