The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, has commended troops of the Division for their professionalism, resilience, determination and competitive spirit demonstrated during the 81 Division Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (WOs/SNCOs) Combat Proficiency Competition 2026.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, on June 19, 2026, the command disclosed that the competition, which concluded on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at 192 Battalion Rear, Owode-Yewa, Ogun State, featured events such as weapon handling and shooting, combat swimming, map reading and navigation, physical fitness tests, and obstacle crossing.
Participating formations included 9 Brigade, Ikeja, 35 Artillery Brigade, Abeokuta, 45 Engineer Brigade, and 81 Division Garrison, Obalende. At the end of the competition, 45 Engineer Brigade emerged overall champion, followed by 35 Artillery Brigade in second place, 9 Brigade in third, and 81 Division Garrison in fourth position respectively.
Represented by the Division Training Officer (DTO), Brigadier General HM Bello, the GOC commended the officials and umpires for their professionalism and commitment, noting that the high standards displayed throughout the exercise reflected the quality of leadership within the participating formations.
He commended the participants for their outstanding performance, stating that the competition reinforced the critical role of WOs and SNCOs in sustaining operational effectiveness and combat readiness in the Nigerian Army. He congratulated the winners and urged them to sustain the standards that earned them victory.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the host and the Commander 81 Division Garrison, Brigadier General AI Getso, described the competition as a successful demonstration of the discipline, teamwork, resilience and professionalism that remain hallmarks of the Nigerian Army.
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu NAM, through the GOC 81 Division, for providing the necessary support for the exercise, and appreciated all personnel who contributed to its success.
The closing ceremony was attended by government officials, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers/community leaders and other distinguished guests.
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of trophies, prizes and awards to the winning formations.