By Tola Gbadamosi

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Obinna Onubogu, has expressed delight at the successful completion of the 2024 Combat Proficiency Competition.

Speaking to participants at the exercise held at the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment in Akure, he congratulated all officers involved and emphasised the importance of continuous self-improvement in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s philosophy.

In his address, Major General Onubogu reminded the officers of the competition’s purpose, which is to enhance their leadership capacities as officers of the Nigerian Army, and urged them to continue their training beyond the competition to further improve their skills and performance.

“I seize this opportunity to congratulate the 22 Brigade for emerging as the overall best in this competition. I also extend my congratulations to all individual competitors who excelled in various aspects of the contest,” he stated.

He gave special recognition to the 4 Brigade, reminding them that their efforts align with the Chief of Army Staff’s philosophy of motivating officers through rigorous training to ensure the Nigerian Army maintains its status as one of the best.

The GOC also acknowledged the unwavering support of the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as well as the good people of the state.

Additionally, he commended the Division Training Officer and the Commander of 32 Brigade for their dedication and commitment to the success of the exercise.

Major General Onubogu praised the commanders of various brigades, officers, and instructors who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the competition, which is designed to enhance leadership qualities, challenge initiative, and prepare officers for higher responsibilities.

“The competition also aims to boost combat efficiency, physical endurance, and esprit de corps among the participating formations,” he explained.

Participants demonstrated determination and skill as they navigated the course.

In his concluding remarks, Major General Onubogu extended his gratitude to all the invited guests from various security agencies and services for their presence.

He also commended the participants for their spirited efforts and competent performances throughout the competition, wishing them success in their future endeavours.

Participating formations in the competition were drawn from across the division’s area of responsibility, including 4 Brigade Benin, 12 Brigade Lokoja, 22 Brigade Ilorin, 32 Brigade Akure, and 42 Engineer Brigade Ibadan, among others.

The competition, which commenced on 19th August 2024, saw participants engage in various events such as tug of war, map reading, combat swimming, and skills-at-arms.

Security agencies that graced the occasion included the Navy, Immigration, Prisons, DSS, and others.

The final event, physical fitness and obstacle crossing, took place this morning, followed by the announcement of results and the presentation of prizes based on performances in each event.

At the end of the contest, 22 Brigade emerged overall best, while 12 Brigade came second. The 42 EB/52 SB/ECC came third, 2 Division GAR/81 BN emerged fourth, 32 Brigade took fifth position, while 4 Brigade came sixth and last on the log table.

Awards were presented by Major General A. O. Akintade.