National President of Retired Army ,Navy and Air Force Officers (RANAO), Club Major General Abdulhafeez Adewuyi (rtd) says the Club is fostering unity in the country and will continue to promote and solidify the armed forces .
He said also RANAO Club had ensured that the intellect of retired military officers, their wisdom and knowledge are not wasted in retirement but challenged to the growth of Nigerian Armed Forces.
RANAO continues to advance the cause of togetherness ,brotherhood and camaraderie through the military culture of togetherness, Esprits de Corps, brotherhood and camaraderie.
RANAO National President, Maj Gen Abdulhafeez Adewuyi (rtd) disclosed this on Monday while briefing Defence Correspondents in Abuja on RANAO 36th National Annual General Meeting .
The 36th NAGM according to Major. General Adewuyi (Rtd) is a culmination of all activities of the club ranging from Chapter, Zonal and HQS activities, RANAO Day celebration, PSOs Meeting, BOT implements in the Association activities and so on. NAGM fosters the reflection and loyalty that you feel for people with whom you have spent the better part of your life.
Major. General Adewuyi (Rtd) noted that Retired officers who spent a better part of their youthful life in the military use the opportunity of the Annual General Meeting to reflect on the past and proffer solution to contemporary challenges.
He said the decision to form this Association was informed by the situation the pensioners found themselves in the 70s and late 80s. Once an officer retired from service, he went into oblivion. Nothing wa s ever heard of him again. Those who had health challenges died without any idea on how to seek help. It was like ‘to your tents O Israel’.
He added that the objective of forming RANAO Association where officers come together, once every month to discuss issues affecting their welfare has been substantially achieved.
Major. General Adewuyi (Rtd) stressed that the caliber of RANAO Association leadership made it easier for the Association to relate with movers and shakers of the society. These include Presidents and Commanders-In-Chief.
Lt Gen S Ibrahim saw RANAO as “a platform not only for its immediate constituency but also on the nation at large”. Gen Ibrahim Babangida, said he had associated with our Association from infancy and RANAO stands out as an organization that retired military officers will aspire to join with pride. Gen AA Abubakar confirmed that his pension was enhanced through the effort of RANAO and his only regret was that he had not joined RANAO etc.
He noted that the decision to form this Association was informed by the situation the pensioners found themselves in the 70s and late 80s. Once an officer retired from service, he went into oblivion. Nothing was ever heard of him again.
“Those who had health challenges died without any idea on how to seek help. It was like ‘to your tents O Israel’. The objective of forming RANAO Association where officers come together, once every month to discuss issues affecting their welfare has been substantially achieved.
“Association is organized under 3 tiers of administration, namely: a). National Headquarter, located here in Abuja, b). Zonal Headquarters: There are seven Zonal Headquarters similar to the six Geopolitical Zones of the Federation and FCT. c). Chapters: Chapters are located in the states and acquire names according to where they are domiciled.
RANAO Association of Nigeria started as one Chapter at Ibadan known as Oyo Chapter. Today it has risen to 29 Chapters, Adamawa being the last of the Chapters to be chartered a week ago.
It would be recall that on 8 August 1987, three retired officers we refer to as the ‘Progenitors’ of our Association, namely Col DB Laoye (now of blessed memory), Lt Col YM Anifowoshe and Maj PO Adedeji (also late) came together to form an Association of retired officers, known as Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Officers’ (RANAO) Club of Nigeria.
It is presently registered with CAC as Retired Army, Navy and Airforce Officers’ (RANAO) Association of Nigeria. The Association was established as non-political, non-religious and non-profit making organization.