As part of activities to mark 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor has kicked off golf kitty tournament to commemorate the celebration.
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General Iabor who was represented by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said the tournament was organised in Collaboration with Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) to celebrate the retired and fallen heroes.
He said the event was significant in remembering the nation’s fallen heroes who had paid the supreme price for defending Nigeria and those still alive who gave their best in service to the nation.
According to him, there were other sporting activities organised to mark the day, adding that it was the first time the armed force would partner with NGF to organise golf tournament.
The President of NGF and Director-General, National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Olusegun Runsewe, commended the CDS for approving the partnership for the tournament.
Runsewe said “there was need to celebrate those that had laid down their lives for the peace and unity of the country.”
He added that Nigeria had moved to the next level of golf development in Nigeria, adding that it had been standardized in line with international standard.
According to him, the International Standard is that, any measure on a golf course must be branded.
“So I’m happy to show you that if you go on the course now every measure has this international standard.
“We have 250 Pro golfers from professionals, amateurs, women among others, and it is an 18 hole golf course.
“I want to assure you that with this partnership, we are going to open more windows in Nigeria,” he said.
The Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said ‘the tournament was organised to honour the fallen heroes who had paid the supreme price to keep Nigeria together”.
Akpor added that there were those that are still living veterans as well as those who bore the scars of war and operations, and handicapped.
He said that “the sporting activities was about building consciousness of the military and supporting them to continue to be the pride of the nation’.
“So, while we are here doing this golf kitty, we also have those who are injured who are also playing a game at the National Stadium as we speak.
“They are playing the Citizen sitting volleyball and Wheelchair basketball,” he said.
In another development, the injured and soldiers living with disability known as Invictus team played citizens sitting volleyball with the FCT team at the indoor arena of the National Stadium.
The Team Leader of Invictus Team, Mr. Ojeh Bobby says the Invictus games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.
According to him, the game shows the power of sports in recovery , through this, they have a wider understanding of what their veterans go through and why the need for recovery.
Mr. Bobby said “that’s why the invictus game has partnered with tribute to their troops to recognize and help wounded soldiers through sports.
“As I stand here today, I am happy to inform you that NIGERIA has now joined the Invictus community of nations.
As the first African country to join this community, our promise is that we will make Africa and indeed the world proud with our ability,” he added.
“I leave you with this, there is ability in the every disability“, he said.
At the end of the sitting Volleyball, FCT Team won with four goals while Invictus Team gave only one goal.
According to the Team Leader of Invictus Team, they are wounded Soldiers that are just recovering.
The Sitting Volleyball were played by FCT Team which are Civilians while Invictus Team are wounded Soldiers.
