By Emeka Amaefula
12TH NIGERIAN NAVY GAMES ENDS AT LAGOS, EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND LIFTS TROPHY
The 12th edition of Nigerian Navy Games was on Thursday 8th of September,2022 flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari and accompanied to the venue of the sports fiesta was Governor of Lagos state Babagide Sanwo Olu who played host to the President and the Nigerian Navy. During the Opening ceremony the chief host, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral AZ Gambo AM GSS PSC, (RSA) MTM FNIM LMUSNIFCSIS FIIPS FCAI with several units of Nigeria Navy Commands took part with Eastern Navy Command and Western Navy command and others performed very well irrespective of the downpour of rainfall. From the outcome of the exercise most performing units and individuals will be selected to participate in the Nigerian Armed Forces Games with some of the participants already camping preparatory for the take off. as it came to an end with eastern Naval Command with headquarters at Calabar lifts trophy with overall best performance of 56 gold,55 Silver and 56 Bronze making a total of 167 medals second position went to Naval Headquarters NHQ with 51 gold , 38 Silver and 46 Bronze making a total of 135 medals. CNC came 3rd with 47 gold, 48 silver and 33 bronze making a total of 128 medals. Western Naval Command came 4th position with 35 gold, 32 silver and 61 bronze with total of 128 medals. NAVTRAC team earned 5th position with 24 gold, 33 silver and 42 bronze making a total of 99 medals. The 6th position went to LOC team with 2 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze with total of 15 medals.
Nigerian Navy Sports Complex Ojo Town Lagos, came alive as President Buhari while commissioning the outfit reiterated the role his administration is playing in securing the country…..and within the one week sporting activities several medals and certificates were presented to winners in both group games and individual sports. Major athletes were discovered in Volleyball, Table TENNIS, Lawn Tennis, Squash, Indoor games such as Draught, Scrabble, Chess, Monopoly et al. Field games like Football, High jump and Long Jump, Track events were also engaged in by officers during the exercise as the need for inclusion into national cum international sporting championship games has now been made imperative. Nigerian Navy Sports has participated in International sporting arena the last being in Tunisia. It is common experience that Golf sport is becoming a traditional sporting activity in most Naval formations across Nigeria with Eastern Naval Command having NNS PATHFINDER Rumuolumeni Port Harcourt Golf Course.
The Likes of Police woman, Mrs. Chioma Ajunwa, the 1996 Olympic Long Jump Gold Medalist is a reminder of how officers of the Armed Forces can as well contribute immensely in making Nigeria proud in the national and International sporting arena.
During the Sporting fiesta Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo was very active as Minister for Defense Alhaji Magashi was present at the closing ceremony as he watched live the Football competition which was watched by several members of the public were present as spectators in cheering the participating teams from various Commands across the country as encomium and accolades were showered on winners and officials of the 12th Navy games got appraised for their organizing skills in making the events a good example of showcasing skills and talents which abounds in Nigerian Navy.
———————–Emeka Amaefula—————————–+234(0)8111813069
