The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, has stressed that Nigeria’s survival depends not only on military might but on citizens of integrity, discipline, and loyalty.
Marwa made the statement in Abuja on Saturday night at the 38th anniversary reunion of the Nigerian Military School (NMS) Class of 1982, where he joined fellow alumni to celebrate nearly four decades of brotherhood and service.
Reflecting on his days in Zaria, Marwa said the NMS transformed young boys into men of courage and resilience, united by shared values rather than tribe, religion, or social background. “At NMS, it didn’t matter who your father was or what language you spoke. We were united by brotherhood and a shared destiny as Nigerians,” he recalled.
The NDLEA boss hailed the Class of 1982 for producing two serving Service Chiefs—Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, describing it as a remarkable legacy. He also commended the class for giving back to their alma mater through projects that reflected gratitude and loyalty.
Marwa emphasized that Nigeria’s greatest need today is not merely soldiers with weapons but citizens of character who embody discipline, loyalty, and resilience. “Our nation requires individuals equipped not only with courage but with values that stand the test of time,” he said.
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Leadership expert Fela Durotoye, who also addressed the gathering, urged the alumni to draw strength from history. He compared their values to those of Africa’s liberation leaders in the 1940s who dismantled colonialism without weapons but with vision and conviction. “In 1945, seventy-nine young Africans gathered in Manchester, driven only by their convictions. Without firing a shot, they tore down colonial rule. That is why history remembers them as the Great Generation,” he told the audience.
According to Durotoye, true greatness is measured not by wealth or titles but by values instilled in the heart. He challenged the NMS Class of 1982 to pass on the same legacy to the next generation, just as the Great Generation once did.
The President of the NMS ’82 Alumni Association, retired Lt.-Cdr. Jim Bent, described the reunion as more than a gathering of old friends, but a reaffirmation of national service. He said NMS has always stood as a training ground for men of character and discipline, with bonds that have endured decades. Bent lightened the evening with memories of late-night escapades and school rivalries, which, he said, only deepened their lifelong brotherhood.
The anniversary closed with renewed pledges of service, integrity, and patriotism from the alumni, who vowed to inspire younger Nigerians by living the values of discipline, unity, and resilience that defined their time at NMS.
