Nine Brigade, the elite brigade of the 81 Division has emerged winner of the 2021 Inter Brigade Combat proficiency competition for officers.
The competition, militarynewsng.com learnt, was put together in compliance with the Nigerian Army (NA) Training Directive for 2021.
The week-long exercise which was hosted by 9 Brigade NA on behalf of 81 Division NA and was held from 9 – 12 August 2021. The contingents of the competition were officers between the ranks of Second Lieutenants and Majors drawn from the various formations under 81 Division NA.
The Formations were merged into 4 groups which included 9 Brigade, 35 Artillery Brigade, 45 Engineers Brigade/243 Battalion and 81 Division Garrison with each group presenting 25 officers. The training activities which was keenly competed for by the 4 groups included Skill at Arms and Shooting, Physical Fitness/Obstacle Crossing, Map Reading/ Communication Skill and Combat Swimming.
At the end of the Combat Proficiency competition, 9 Brigade emerged the overall champion by winning the trophies for weapon handling, physical fitness/obstacle crossing and combat swimming with a total of 340 points. 45 Engineers Brigade/243 Battalion clinched the second position with a total of 300 points while 81 Division Garrison and 35 Artillery Brigade came third and fourth with a total of 280 and 200 points respectively.
Delivering the closing remarks at the occasion, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Major General Lawrence Fejokwu said the aim of the competition was to improve leadership skills/professional competence, promote esprit-de-corps and prepare the officers for higher responsibilities. It was also intended to prepare the officers for battle readiness in view of the present security challenges confronting the Country. The GOC congratulated the overall winners and urged others to work harder for the next edition of the competition.
In similar vein, the GOC used the occasion to commission 5 Nissan Pick up Patrol Vehicles donated by the Lagos State Government for Operation MESA and NAOWA Utility Bus recently refurbished by the Commander 9 Brigade Brigadier General Mayirenso Saraso. The GOC thanked the Lagos State Government for the kind gesture and also urged the benefiting units which included 149 Battalion Ojo, 174 Battalion Ikorodu, 243 Battalion Badagry and 9 Brigade Ikeja to put the vehicles to good use.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the representative of Lagos State Government Director of Administration Lagos State Security Fund Mr Adegbola Lewis, HRH Oba of Onigbongbo Oba Adeyemi Ajasa, representative of the Commander NNS Beecroft Commander Andrew Zidon. Others are representatives of the Acting Comptroller Federal Operation Unit Zone A Nigerian Custom Services Ikeja Lagos, Commanders of the various formations under 81 Division and Principal Staff Officers among others.
