Photo: Commander, 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Hassan Bello(r), making a presentation to GOC 82 Div.(Special Guest), Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, represented by Maj.-Gen. Solomon Julius, at the opening ceremony of the inter-brigade competition on Monday.
By Leonard Okachie
The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, has begun this year’s Inter-Brigade Corporal Below Competition to improve the leadership ability and team spirit among non-commissioned officers.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Maj.- Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, declared the competition open on Monday at 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army Headquartres, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks, Ohafia, Abia.
Olatoye, represented by Commander 54 Signal Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Solomon Julius, said it was a major event in the Nigerian Army’s annual training activities to challenge the junior soldiers’ initiatives and prepare them for higher responsibilities.
He said that the competition, apart from enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing of the participants, provided the platform for them to demonstrate their innate abilities to lead and exhibit good organisational skills.
Olatoye told the participants that the events lined up provided a unique opportunity to enhance their confidence, endurance, and physique to an appreciable standard required of a non-commissioned officer.
“I urge you in the strongest terms to remain professional, focused and committed to your career in order to become brave and courageous leaders.
“To the umpires, I urged you to follow the laid down rules of the competition to ensure free, fair, and a successful competition, devoid of any form of doubts,” the GOC said.
He called for fair officiating of the competition “so that at the end, the best would emerge”.
He said that the competition was in line with the command philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff.
”This philosophy is to consolidate the transformation of Nigerian Army toward bequeathing a well-motivated and combat-ready force that can effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities within a joint multi-agency environment,” Olatoye said.
In a remark, the Commander, 14 Brigade, Brig.- Gen. Hassan Bello, said that the competition involved rigorous physical conditioning, regimentation, weapon proficiency, tactical skills, discipline and drills, among others.
Bello said that the competition, which involved five formations in the division, would feature drill, combat swimming, map reading, combat run and obstacle crossing, among others.
He said that the formations included 34 Artillery Brigade, Owerri, 44 Engineers Brigade, Enugu, 82 Division Garrison, Enugu, 13 Brigade, Calabar and 14 Brigade, Ohafia.
Bello, who is the Sector Commander 3 Joint Task Force South-East, Operation Udo Ka, said that all the venues selected for the various events had been properly prepared to ensure they met the standards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opening ceremony featured oath taking, parades, drills and other activities.(NAN)
