Nigerian Air Force Team HQ GTC Emerges Champion At Uyo 2018

Team Ground Training Command (GTC) has emerged the overall champion, as the third edition of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition came to a close on 6 April 2018. The competition which featured 7 teams, commenced on 3 April 2018 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Team GTC was able to edge out the 6 other teams drawn from the 5 remaining NAF Commands and the Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF) in a keenly contested competition. The winner snatched 6 gold and one silver medals. Team Logistics Command (LC), which came second, had 5 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 9 bronze medals while team Tactical Air Command (TAC) came third with 5 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. The fourth, fifth and sixth positions went to HQ NAF, Air Training Command (ATC) and Special Operations Command (SOC) respectively. Team Mobility Command (MC) came seventh with 2 silver medals and 7 bronze medals.

As part of events to mark the end of the games, an invitational Combat Relay Race was held. Out of the 3 security agencies that participated, the Nigerian Army (NA) Team carted away the gold medal while the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Police came 2nd and 3rd respectively. In addition, the final round of the Tug of War competition held between Team LC and Team SOC with the former winning. Thereafter, trophies and medals were presented to winners while the Combat Sports Flag, which signified the end of the 2018 Edition of the NAF Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition, was lowered.

In his remarks at the closing ceremony, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State congratulated the champions for distinguishing themselves at the competition. He also congratulated all participants for their painstaking efforts during the games. He noted that the aim of the competition was not just to win medals or trophies but also to promote esprit-de-corps among personnel. The Governor commended the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for his pragmatic and workable vision which has repositioned the NAF into a highly professional Air Force. He then thanked the CAS for the opportunity given to Akwa Ibom to host the event while also restating the desire of Akwa Ibom State to host a NAF Operational Base. The Governor, who donated the sum of 2 million to the GTC, winners of the Competition, appreciated the Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, for continually providing for the Nigerian Armed Forces. He thereafter officially declared the 2018 Edition of the combat sports competition closed.

The Chairman Organizing Committee, Air Commodore Mfon Ekpoh, in his vote of thanks, on behalf of the CAS, warmly lauded the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River State for the tremendous support enjoyed during and before the competition. He also appreciated the CAS for always being willing and ready to offer guidance whenever the Organizing Committee consulted him while preparing for the competition. Furthermore, Air Commodore Ekpoh expressed gratitude to all the distinguished invited guests, who were either present or represented at the event. In addition to Governor Emmanuel, other distinguished Nigerians at the occasion included the Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Duro Faseyi, Chairman House Committee on Air Force, Honourable Samson Okwu, Director Air Force at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Hassan Dikko. Others included the representatives of the other Service Chiefs, other senior military officers, both serving and retired, as well as top government officials.

The Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition, which was introduced into the NAF three years ago, has become an annual regimental sporting event, aimed at continually promoting combat fitness and esprit-de-corps among Service personnel. The competition was also aimed at enhancing effective service delivery, which can only be achieved when personnel are physically and mentally fit. The event, which was tagged “Uyo 2018”, featured over 600 participants who competed in 8 various games.