The Nigerian Navy has rounded off the 2022 edition of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval Command Golf tournament in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
This is part of activities to enhance the physical readiness of its personnel to conduct military operations.
The exercise, which was held in collaboration with the Calabar Golf Club, featured the active participation of the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, the Eastern Naval Command, ENC, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, who teed-off the one day tournament.
Fitness
In a brief remark, Rear Admiral Dewu commended the Captain of the Calabar Golf Club, retired Major General Ahmed Sabo for collaborating with the navy to host the annual event, which he said was a source of fitness for military personnel and would enhance civil – military relationship.
Dewu stated that “apart from being an instrument of corporate social responsibility for the command, the game of golf presents a veritable source for physical, mental and psychological fitness for military personnel deployed to the command.”
According to him, “only a fit soldier can fight for his fatherland and that this why the command in collaboration with the Calabar Golf Club has sustained this annual tournament over the years.
“As a military force, sports play an integral role in ensuring that personnel are always ready to conduct military operations,” the FOC emphasised.
The FOC hinted that within the year, winners of previous activities were selected to represent the command at the 2022 Nigeria Navy Games held in Lagos State around September, a strategy, which enabled “the Eastern Naval Command, for the first time in its history, emerge as the overall champion.”
Motivational Support
The Flag Officer Commanding also indicated that the ENC supported the recent four-day basketball clinic for more than 500 boys and girls between the ages of 5 to 16 organised by an ex-Nigerian International basketballer based in Finland, Henry Umoru with the partnership of Naval Officers Wives Association in Calabar.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for supporting the activities of the command in line with his vision “to leverage on all factors of national location, technology, training, teamwork and synergy to re-energize the Nigerian Navy and enhance her as a well-motivated and ready naval force in the discharge of her constitutional mandate and other assigned tasks in fulfilment of national security objectives.”
Similarly, the Captain of the Calabar Golf Club Major General Sabo expressed appreciation to the Eastern Naval Command for choosing to hold its annual tournament in Calabar and assured that the club would be open for further collaborations.
Sabo noted, “the Eastern Naval Command has been close with the golf club participating in other tournaments. I will use this opportunity to invite sister security agencies to emulate the Nigerian Navy in this area of collaborations.
The golf competition featured presentations of prizes and awards to the winners of various categories as well as the FOC, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu.
Confidence Okwuchi
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