Retired generals IBM Haruna, Salihu Ibrahim and Tanko Ayuba have called on the Nigerian Army not to demilitarize the Nigeria Military School, Zaria.

They were among the alumni of the institution who met over the weekend at the launch of the Ex-Boys Foundation at the Nigeria Defense College, Abuja.

The army had disclosed plan to divest the school of its military training component in 2011, citing a UN Convention on Child Soldiering as its reason.

Haruna, who chaired the occasion said, "The Nigeria Military School was the very first military institution budgeted for and established by this country. With a sense of history, we owe it a duty to preserve it and we have to draw this to the attention of our leaders."

Haruna was a member of the first set to be admitted into the institution in 1954.

Also speaking, former Chief of Army Staff, Salihu Ibrahim said the decision of the army to "send ex-boys back to their parents after they pass out and say those who are interested should go and apply for recruitment through the Nigeria Army Depot is too harsh and we are definitely going to take the matter up."

In his remarks, Senator and retired Brigadier General Tanko Ayuba said, "The military school was set up for a purpose and that purpose can never be under-emphasised. This event today marks a turning point. Nigeria needs military school and military school needs Nigeria. Military school and Nigeria can grow together for the good of our country and the whole of Africa."