By Yochuku Ofoka Yobolisa, Editor in Chief
Apart from the Nigerian Army belief that victory comes from God, unity and team spirit have also been identified as bedrocks of success in battles.
Commandant of the Nigerian Army Depot, Major General AB Ibrahim made the revelation at this year’s edition of 1 Div inter brigade competition for corporals and below held at the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Kaduna from 6 April to 9 April 2021.
At the competition, 3 Brigade – the host unit – emerged champion while 1 Div Garrison emerged second best and 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna came third.
The exercise tested the participants’ skills and proficiency in weapons handling, map reading, leadership qualities, discipline, endurance and teamwork.
General Ibrahim who was the special guest of honour at the event noted that physical exercises and competitions have always been used to achieve team spirit, togetherness, and mental and physical fitness. He noted that the competition was a crucial event targeted at a very important group in the NA chain of command.
He said, “Unity and team spirit are the bedrocks of success in any battle. I am impressed because the competition has been used to achieve the very objectives of team spirit, togetherness, mental and physical fitness.”
On his own part, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Major General DH Ali-Keffi while noting the commendable strides that some of the participants made at the competition frowned at the efforts of participants who could not cross the horizontal and vertical ropes. He, therefore, directed the units concerned to send such participants for a six-week training at the 1 Div HQ in Kaduna.
To prevent favouring some soldiers above others in future competitions, the GOC directed all formations to send their nominal rolls to the headquarters before selecting participants.
According to him, this would give equal opportunity to every physically fit soldier to be part of the exercise, and to avoid selecting only those who have been tested and found capable.
“In combat,” he said, “every soldier is expected to face the same challenges which they are being trained for in the competition.”
In the end, 3 female soldiers who crossed the horizontal and vertical ropes were awarded the sum of N20, 000 each.
The GOC also directed that the 3 female soldiers, and some private and lance corporals who have been four years in their ranks be given field ranks to the next higher rank with pay.
