HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE CADET CORPS


NATIONAL CADET CORPS(NIGERIA) is opened to schools, colleges, institutions, barracks and community students on a voluntary basis. Cadet Corps in Nigeria is a voluntary organization which recruits cadets from secondary schools, universities, polytechnics, barracks youths, colleges and communities all over.


The history of establishing para-military corps in institutions of learning in Nigeria dates back to 1976 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo as military Head of State in the Supreme Military Council when the armed forces of Nigeria conceived the idea and knew cadet training was important for character building and a valuable instrument in the general upbringing of boys and girls while inculcating military training, ethics and discipline, virtues of order, teamwork in the youths. Hence the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) which was later renamed the National Cadet Corps was introduced.


National Cadet Corps was founded in 1989 and commissioned on 22nd of June, 1990 by Commander S. O Afolayan, Commanding Officer at NNS OLOKUN now NNS BEECROFT, Apapa Lagos. Cadets are categorized into three: Army, Naval and Air Cadets. The cadets are given basic military training in drills and parades, self-defense, physical fitness, sports, rock climbing, obstacle crossing, first aid, citizenship and leadership etc. However, the cadets have no liability for active service once they complete their course but are given preference over normal candidates during the selection process based on their achievements in the corps.


The headquarters of the Nigeria Cadet Corps (NACC) is the first institute cadet coy in Nigeria located at Alpha Coy, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos while the headquarters of the Nigeria Naval Cadet Corps (NNCC) is located at Lagos State University, Lagos. While we have many institutions like universities, polytechnics, colleges and secondary school having cadet companies are categorized as Institution Cadets. We also have cadet companies in states which are community based with its members from various schools with community service focus which are referred to as MASCOT CADETS.