By Stephen Adeleye
The Nigerian Army (NA) on Tuesday commenced the 2 Division Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) Competition aimed at strengthening leadership, professionalism and combat readiness among personnel.
The four-day competition, holding from July 7 to July 10 at Chari Maigumeri Barracks, Lokoja, was declared open by retired Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko, the Special Guest of Honour
Hosted by the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, the competition brings together participants from formations under the 2 Division to test their professional competence and operational preparedness.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commander of the 12 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kasim Sidi, described the competition as a deliberate and strategic initiative to enhance the leadership capacity, organisational skills, esprit de corps and professional competence of warrant officers and senior NCOs.
According to him, the exercise aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Army into a more professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force capable of effectively carrying out its constitutional responsibilities within a joint and multi-agency environment.
Sidi said that the events were carefully selected to assess the core competencies required for effective military operations.
He listed the activities to include drill competition, combat swimming, combat race and obstacle crossing, map reading, shooting and weapon handling, among others.
According to him, the competition will sharpen participants’ professional skills while promoting discipline, confidence and teamwork.
He urged participants to compete with dedication, fairness and a strong sense of purpose, assuring them that adequate arrangements had been made by the Local Organising Committee to ensure a smooth, fair and professionally conducted exercise.
Declaring the competition open, Idoko said the exercise was timely in view of the prevailing security challenges facing the country, which require a highly prepared and professional military.
He described the competition as a platform for building character, leadership and esprit de corps, stressing that it went beyond testing physical endurance and tactical skills.
“I know first-hand what combat readiness truly demands: discipline, stamina, teamwork and an unbreakable will.
“Every obstacle you face here mirrors the challenges you may encounter in the field,” he told the participants.
Idoko said the exercise would enable formations to assess their level of combat readiness and generate lessons that would further strengthen the Nigerian Army.
He also assured participants that competent and impartial umpires and judges had been appointed to ensure fairness throughout the competition.
Both Sidi and Idoko commended the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Maj.-Gen. C.R. Nnebeife, for providing the platform for the competition and appreciated the guests for attending the event despite their busy schedules.
The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, invited guests and participants from formations under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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