By Emmanuel Emeka, Abuja
The wife of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Nana Shettima, has congratulated the newly graduated officers of the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) during the 26th Regular Course graduation ceremony held on Tuesday in Abuja.
The event, which had 172 participants, produced a total of 169 graduating officers.
Mrs. Shettima commended the new diplomats for their determination, courage, and commitment throughout the training, describing their success as a reflection of resilience and discipline.
She emphasised that the lessons learned through the rigorous programme must now be applied in service to the nation.
The Second Lady noted that the development comes at a critical time under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Nigeria works to strengthen its roots at home and sharpen its image abroad.
She said: “First of all, I would like to start by congratulating each and every one of you. To be honest, I know it wasn’t an easy journey, but with your determination, courage, and commitment, here you are.
“Whatever it is, it will take two to turn good. So, I hope the lessons that you learn, your experiences, you will take wherever you find yourselves — to promote, project, and protect the interests of this country.
“I believe it is a very good image for the country. And I believe, just as I said, it’s for you to try as much as possible to sell the image of this country positively.”
In his remarks, the Director of the Foreign Service Academy, Lagos, Mr. Chimezie Okeoma Ogu, described the graduation day as “a day of perseverance, renewed commitment, and hope to serve our dear country in the light of blessings and knowledge acquired.”
He noted that the 26th Regular Course covered professional studies in diplomacy, international relations, law, artificial intelligence, languages, and public speaking — making it one of the most comprehensive courses to date.
Mr. Ogu, however, appealed for urgent attention to the infrastructural and funding challenges facing the Academy, particularly at its Lagos site, noting that the number of participants (172 officers) far exceeds its current accommodation capacity of 110 units.
The event also featured the presentation of a book titled Threats of a Diplomat, authored by one of the graduating officers, inspired by the lessons learned during the course.
