Soldiers strengthening esprit de corps through social activities
`All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' is an inappropriate expression for anyone that wants to live long. Rather a combination of both makes man a perfect human being.
No wonder, the officers and men of the Nigerian Army recently organised their annual West African Social Activities popularly known as WASA where they danced, wined and dined to the admiration of their guests, their family members and the members of their host communities but not to the detriment of their constitutional responsibility: protecting Nigeria's land mass against external invasion.
WASA is one of the formidable ways through which the Nigerian Army personnel have been strengthening the common spirit existing among them as well as inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for their self-esteemed honour.
Supreme reports that WASA, a military tradition which happens every year, is aimed at creating room for socialisation between military officers, soldiers and their respective families with their civilian kith and kin as well as friends.
So, participating in WASA has become an annual event soldiers in the various military formations have always yearned for being a period when they all will adorn their cultural wears as against their regimental uniforms and their family members will mix freely with the top brass and vice versa in relaxed atmospheres.
They displayed their various cultural dances and the thug-of-war competitions to the admiration of their guests and family members during WASA.
The origin of WASA can be traced to the period of the Second World War in which the then NA participated as part of the British West African Frontier Force.
During the period, indigenous West African armies would get together to celebrate their cultural heritage with their kinsmen at the end of every year. The event, usually marked by cultural dances and other socio-traditional activities, is also used to mark the beginning of the progressive New Year.
This tradition was originally done by local indigenous people, where the village heads would send invitations to military formations to allow their soldiers attend such social gatherings and participate in traditional and cultural activities in their country homes.
Consequently, the colonial military administration incorporated the tradition into the regimentation of their armies and named it West African Social Activities or simply 'WASA'.
This tradition is still being practised in most of the former British colonies in the West African Sub-Region including Nigeria till date.
The 2021 edition held in January 2022 was not an exception to the rule. The Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC); the 81 Division, the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI) and the Nigerian Army Logistics Corps all celebrated theirs within their various parade grounds.
During WASA, both senior officers and the soldiers wore their traditional outfits and displayed their rich cultural heritage.
To spice up the occasion were various colourful cultural dances and performances which thrilled the guests and the organisers themselves at the events.
The Tiv dance group thrilled the audience with their flexibly movements to the rhyms resonating from their traditional drums while the students of the Nigerian Army Secondary School, Ikeja Cantonment, performed various cultural dances to the admiration of all.
The Yoruba traditional dance group was not left out as they wowed the audience with the Sango "fire spitting" dance performance with a man costumiered in a red attire and other weird accessories to distinguish `Sango', the god of iron and a warrior.
Indeed, the social event which held in different formations on different days was more like a carnival of sort in an organised setting devoid of the daily regimental lifestyle of the military.
The Hausa Fulani group displayed their war-like- fighting skills with their swords and clubs to spar and rendering solemn war songs. Though, they thrilled their guests with their performance but they looked a bit frightened following the dexterity with the clash of their steel and wooden clubs and they were prevailed upon by the soldiers on guard to stop it before it went wild.
The rich display of culture coupled with the relaxed ambience moved some of the senior officers and invited guests to appreciate the dance groups with some dance steps that received joyful responses and applauses from the guests.
To give credence to the importance of the celebration, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Farouk Yahaya sent his representatives to the various WASA events. In his address , he commended the men and the officers for their meritorious services toward protecting the country in the previous years and charged them to up their stake in the current year.
During the celebration, the COAS is usually expected to unveil to the soldiers in a relaxed atmosphere what the Nigerian Army (NA) under their respective leaderships will do for them and how he wants them to reciprocate such gestures through prompt discharge of their constitutional mandate.
Also, it is usually an avenue whereby officers are rewarded for their excellent services to the country.
Hence, the incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya described the year 2021 as quite eventful for the NA saying that all the field training activities programmed for the year were successfully conducted as scheduled with support from President Muhammadu Buhari.
"These exercises have significantly gone a long way in curbing and reducing criminality and other nefarious activities across the country," he said adding that several projects such as the renovation of some barracks and offices, construction of new barracks and the upgrade of medical facilities were also implemented.
"Also, procurement of arms and ammunition had been carried out with the support received from the Federal Government," he said
According to the COAS, another training cycle had commenced and he implored the soldiers to remain committed in the discharge of their collective responsibilities in ensuring peace and stability across the country.
"We must remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on the achievements so far recorded," he said.
WASA always serves as a good opportunity for the number one soldier to pay tributes to the fallen heroes who had paid the supreme price to keep the country safe and remain one while discharging their duties. "May their gentle souls rest in peace and may the Almighty grant the families the fortitude to bear the loss,'' Yahaya said about those who died in active service.
Similarly, WASA celebrations also afforded the COAS to openly appreciate the roles and contributions of the wives of soldiers to nation building and keeping the home front while their husbands were away on national assignments or on peace keeping mission.
The COAS said, "My appreciation also goes to our spouses and families for their unrelenting supports and encouragements in the discharge of our duties," he said and promised that the NA would continue to look into the welfare of its personnel and their families with the unshakable support from the Federal Government.
Interestingly, WASA has continued to attract the top echelon of the other arms of the Nigeria Armed Forces: the Navy and the Air Force, especially those who are heading their formations based in Lagos State into its fold as partners in progress.
The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Jason Gbassa, as the guest of honour at the Nigerian Army Signals ( NAS)version of WASA described the event as being very important and and aimed at promoting bonding and unity among soldiers.
According to Gbassa, WASA has become a social programme he will like to see enlarged and enriched into a week-long carnival instead of just a single-day event.
Similarly, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Idi Lubo, the Commandant, Nigeria Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), was the guest of honour at the 81 Division's WASA events. There, he acknowledged the NA for making substantial gains in the fight against insurgency and other vices which he said were achieved through their dedication, commitment, sacrifices and synergy with other security agencies.
Also, the Director of Islamic Affairs, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Shehu Mustapha, says that WASA has helped in uniting the army and bringing harmony to the various formations.
Mustapha says that the legacy has actually helped to nurture the confidence and share the spirit of harmony between military personnel and their families who naturally come from diverse geo-cultural spreads.
"Additionally, WASA plays a vital role of reminding the older generation of the barracks community of their cultural heritage. It also connects the younger ones who were probably born outside of their traditional community to their custom," he said.
The civil populace was not left out as Mr Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General (D-G) Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), congratulated the NA for organising a social activity that will continue to boost the morale of officers and encourage them to put in more efforts in the discharge of their duties.
Also, various commanders of the military formations used the event to highlight their achievements in the previous year and their projections for the new year.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division NA, Maj-Gen. Lawrence Fejokwu, the Chief of Account and Budget, NA, Maj-Gen. Adekunle Adesope and the Commander of the Nigerian Army Signals (NAS), Maj-Gen. Abiodun Owolabi did that on behalf of their various units.
Similarly, since health is wealth, the Nigerian Army Medical Corps (NAMC)was not left out in the celebrations. Its Acting Commander, Col. Idris Solebo, said that the logistics corps contributed immensely to the overall successes recorded by the NA in 2021 and assured all that the corps will redouble its efforts for better logistics support as the year 2022 commences.
"All the logistics corps were able to provide effective and efficient logistics support to all NA training exercises and operations as well as capacity development of officers in NACOL.
"The logistics corps is currently providing robust logistics enablement in support of 'Ex HADIN KAI' and 'Ex HADARIN DAJI' in the northeast and northwest of the country respectively.
"We have also contributed resources and supported NA exercises with men, materials and equipment such as providing combat service support for 'Ex GOLDEN DAWN', 'Ex STILL WATER' and 'Ex CROCODILE SMILE VI' among others," he added.
