The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has advised men and officers to use championship to strengthening their fitness, perseverance and mental resolve to overcome the contemporary challenges.
Yahaya gave the advice at the maiden inter-divisions orienteering and adventure competition of the Nigerian Army, organised for seven divisions.
It ended on Wednesday at the Old Oyo National Park, Igbeti, in Oyo State.
The COAS was represented at the event by Maj.-Gen. Dickson Ehirobo, the Corps Commander, Inter Formations Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Nigerian Army.
Yahaya said that such competition would prepare them, at the same time, to anticipate the emerging challenges in the course of their duties.
He said that the programme was also aimed at giving the participants the challenges similar to what the troops were currently facing in various operations across the country.
Yahaya said that the competition
was about training and the value attached to it.
The COAS recalled that four pillars of his vision, which he released shortly on assumption of office, were professionalism, readiness, sound administration and cooperation.
“These four pillars can only make meaning when driven with innovative training.
“I am, therefore, delighted that the Department of Training and the Directorate of Army Physical Training have maintained the conceptualisation of various innovations,” he said.
According to him, the conceptualisation has brought out the best in our troops in all the training schedules conducted since the beginning of second quarter of this year.
Yahaya maintained that the attainment of the training objectives was far more important than winning of trophies.
Also, Maj.-Gen. Gold Chibuisi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, said the importance of the exercise could not be overemphasised.
Chibuisi acknowledged the critical roles of junior leadership in the fight against insurgency and other myriad of security challenges confronting the country.
He said the exercise was aimed at enhancing the operational readiness of troops under a competitive atmosphere.
The GOC thanked the COAS for given the 2 Division, Ibadan, the opportunity to host the maiden edition of the competition.
He explained that the programme would further reposition the army for the professional defeat of all adversaries and also assist them to contribute toward the attainment of the COAS’ vision.
“COAS’ vision is ‘a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defense of Nigeria,” Chibuisi said.
He said that the scope of the competition would no doubt promote esprit-de Corps in various capacities such as physical fitness, map reading, navigation, administration in the field as well as minor tactics, among others.
The participating formations were Army Garrison Abuja; 1 Division Kaduna; 2 Division Ibadan; 3 Division Jos; 6 Division, Port Harcourt; 81 Division, Lagos and 82 Division, Enugu.
Among the events competed for during the weeklong programme were 10 kilometres road run with 12.5kg dead load, fitness test competition, 20 kilometres cross terrain navigation and 30 kilometres road run with total kits.
(NAN)