The Conservator of Old Oyo National Park, CP Caroline Samuel Olory has stated that the Park is a viable and available training ground that could be upgraded to the status of a National Park Service Training School.
The first female Conservator of Park in West Africa stated this in her welcome address on the 25th January 2023 at the Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony to mark the end of a training exercise for the new recruits into the National Park Service.
The paramilitary training of 240 new intakes into the Service was held at the Old Oyo National Park’s Akoto Base Camp, Sepeteri for more than two weeks, during which participants went through necessary drillings to prepare them for hectic demands of the job.
CP Olory appreciated the CG, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni and his team for choosing Old Oyo National Park as venue for the training programme, adding that the Park is relatively peaceful despite the security challenges confronting the country.
The POP was graced by the Conservator General of the Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni who equally representated the Honourable Minister for Environment, Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi as Special Guest of Honour.
The CG, whose entourage included ACGs M A Kabir (ERM/HRM) and Omole Martins (F&A) in his address charged the new recruits to put lessons learnt during the training to proper use in the discharge of their duties.
He reiterated that the training was meant to enhance the capacity of the new intakes to live up to expectations in the discharge of their duties as paramilitary personnel. He added that their enlistment into the Service is coming at a time the nation is grappling with a lot of security challenges which range from terrorism, banditry and kidnapping to cattle rustling and farmer/herders’ conflict adding that the training will no doubt provide them with the skills to tactfully counter the cases of illegal activities in and around the National Parks.
Dr Goni expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi for approving the recruitment and the training and for other supports the Service enjoys under his leadership.
The highlights of the event was a display of a colourful parade and other demonstrations by the new young officers and men. Other guests at the occasion were representative sister security agencies, traditional and community leaders in the support zone communities.
