By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto
Major General Ibikunle Ajose, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, has credited the operational successes of his troops to their physical and mental fitness.
He made this statement on Monday, April 7, during the opening of the 2025 8 Division Inter-Formation Corporal and Below Competition at the 26 Battalion Parade Ground in Sokoto.
Represented by Brigadier General Moses Udom Ikobah, the GOC said, “As your General Officer Commanding and the Commander, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, I can attest that the operational success we have recorded so far could not have been possible if the troops’ mental and physical fitness were in doubt.”
He explained that the competition, a core part of the Army’s annual training, aims to boost troop competence and performance in the field.
The event is designed to foster esprit de corps, lift morale, and enhance junior leadership, organizational skills, and initiative among non-commissioned officers. Participants from 1 Brigade, 17 Brigade, 8 Division Garrison, 48 Engineering Brigade, and 58 Signals Brigade will compete in map reading, swimming, weapon handling, drills, and races.
Ajose noted that the competition aligns with the Nigerian Army’s 2025 training calendar and supports the Chief of Army Staff’s vision of transforming the Army into a motivated, combat-ready force for joint operations.
“As our dear country continues to face a myriad of security challenges compounded by the asymmetric nature and dynamic disposition of these threats, our conventional roles as junior leaders underscore the need for us to come together and train together,” he said.
He encouraged participants to seize the opportunity to sharpen their skills and stay focused on the competition’s goals.