The Headquarters 9 Brigade Nigerian Army Ikeja has emerged Best overall in the just concluded 2021 Corporal and Below competition held at 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks Abeokuta – Ogun State.
Participants for the four days (19 – 22 of April 2021) events were drawn from 9 Brigade Nigerian Army Ikeja, 35 Artillery Brigade Alamala and 81 Division Garrison Doddan Barracks, Obalende Lagos.
The event was to hone the skills of soldiers from the rank of Corporal and below on basic skills required to function optimally in the field.
The competition featured events like 10 km half combat Marathon, drill, weapon handling which involved stripling and assembly and live firing. Other events competed for included map reading and navigation and obstacle crossing.In the contest, 9 Brigade won four trophies out of the six events.
The special guest of honour, General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigerian Army Major General Lawrence Fejokwu ably represented by Commander 35 Artillery Brigade Brigadier General EJ Amadasun disclosed that the aim of the competition was inline with the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Attahiru’s vision which is “To have Nigerian Army that is Repositioned to Professionally Defeat all Adversaries in a Joint Environment”
The GOC stated that competitions of this nature were required by soldiers to enable then discharge their duties with professionalism which would require competency, endurance, team spirit in their drive to provide a condusive environment for Nigerians. He stated that training especially in peace time in a tensed, hard terrain will yield positive result when the need arise.
He urged the participants to put in what they have garnered from the contest into their operational tasks and urged other contestants not to despair but to work harder so as to ensure they perform better in future competitions.
Dignitaries who attended the occasion include, the Commander(s) 9 Brigade Brigadier General Sale Kawugana, the incoming Commander 9 Brigade Brigadier General MLD Saraso, Commander 81 Division Garrison Brigadier General EO Ojabo, Commander 35 Artillery Brigade Garrison Colonel DM Baba, the Balle of Alamala amongst others. Event was hitch free as trophies, certificates and prizes were given to deserving participants.