By John Odhe, YENAGOA
The Nigerian Navy Ship, Soroh (NNS-Soroh) has presented computer sets, textbooks and mathematical sets to the Bishop Dimeari Grammar School (BDGS), Ovom in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as part of activities marking the seventieth anniversary of the Nigerian navy.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) the Central Naval Command (CNC) Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim was represented at the event by the Chief Staff Officer of the CNC, Rear Admiral Vincent Gbaranwi at the school’s auditorium.
The FOC said the navy, made up of three combined components of Military, Policing and Diplomatic force had come a long way securing the Nigerian maritime territory and had been at the fore front of protecting critical national assets particularly oil and gas installations within its operational areas.
“There is increasing peace and stability in the Niger Delta and increased oil production which means that those responsible for that are doing their work and the Nigerian navy is ahead of that.
“The Navy is the lead agency to protect the maritime space in Nigeria. So, the navy is doing so well alongside other stakeholders,” he said.
Presenting the education materials to the students and management of the BDGS, the commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Soroh, Commodore Christian Akokota noted that the gesture was part of the navy’s corporate social responsibility to promote standard of education in Nigeria especially amongst communities hosting their operational facilities.
Akokota disclosed that the Nigerian navy currently ranks 22nd globally and first in Africa due to its high level professionalism in its operations, urging the students to study hard and admire to be naval officers in their future endeavours.
Receiving the items on behalf of the State government, the commissioner for education, Mr. Gentle Emelah who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Simon Peter Okene, commended the Nigerian navy for not only securing the Bayelsa waterways but also supporting the state government in academic development.
Describing the event as symbolic, the commissioner charged the benefiting students to thoroughly study the books and make judicious use of the computers and mathematical sets presented to them.
Also speaking, the Principal of the BDGS, Mrs. Beauty Asamaowei appreciated the
navy for partnering with the State government through the ministry of education to add more value to the sector.
The Senior Prefect of the school, Master Davidson Osubu, while thanking the naval officers on behalf of the students, promised to enrich their academic knowledge with the items presented to them.
