As part of the Nigerian Army's Forecast of Events and Guards Brigade Training Directives for Year 2025, more than 200 troops have successfully participated in the Guards Brigade Inter Unit Corporal and Below Competition, one of the activities lined up for the Year 2025 in which 7 Guards Battalion Maitama became overall winner of the competition.
The competition, which began on Monday, 14 Apr 25 with Obstacle crossing, Skill at Arms and Map Reading on Tuesday, Cross country Endurance Run on Wednesday and culminating today, 17th April 2025, with Drill as the fourth and the final phase of the competition.
The competing Units are 7 Guards Battalion Maitama, 102 Guards Battalion Suleja, 177 Guards Battalion Keffi, 176 Guards Battalion Gwagwalada and Guards Brigade Garrison Asokoro Abuja, respectively.
In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, Chief of Personnel management (Army), Maj. Gen Y Yahaya commended personnel of Guards Brigade who are saddled with enormous responsibilities that are highly demanding in manpower and time, adding that, yet their ability to vigorously pursue the accomplishment of their training activities to the latter is commendable and for the Nigerian Army, continuous and realistic training is not just a necessity; it is an obligation.
Maj Gen Yahaya noted that the competition has significantly enhanced their physical fitness, teamwork, and combat survival skills. "From the results observed, I can confidently say that your confidence, cohesion, and fighting spirit have been greatly strengthened.
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He said he is aware that the competition has tested the competitors' skills in marksmanship, map reading, obstacle crossing, and cross-country endurance. These are essential combat proficiencies that will serve them well in the ever-evolving operational environment.
Highlighting the role of the Guards Brigade, Maj. Gen Yahaya said the Guards Brigade has expanded significantly beyond Presidential security and ceremonial duties.
He added that to safeguarding the President and the seat of power, they now bear the crucial responsibility of securing the Federal Capital Territory and its environs - duties that would undoubtedly test their level of professionalism, adaptability, and combat readiness.
"In the light of evolving threats, you must therefore continue to train and retrain as mastery in warfare is never static. The unconventional nature of modern security challenges requires constant innovation and resilience"
He urged them to remain vigilant, disciplined, and committed to excellence - for the battlefield favours only those who prepare relentlessly.
Earlier in his welcome address at the closing Ceremony, the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General Adebisi Onasanya, said in the Nigerian Army, training is an ongoing endeavour that cultivates excellence, discipline, physical fitness, combat resilience, and teamwork among troops.
Brig. Gen Onasanya noted that given the complexities of modern warfare, soldiers must perform optimally, underscoring the need for top-notch training. As training methods evolve, it is essential to develop fundamental soldiering qualities like high morale, Initiative, and physical fitness. Achieving the Nigerian Army's training standards requires rigorous physical fitness and mental toughness training.
This competition has been an excellent opportunity for our troops to demonstrate their skills, and I am proud of their accomplishments. Let's celebrate their success and continue to strive for excellence in our training endeavours
He said so far, the Competition has witnessed participants competing in obstacle crossing, weapon handling, map reading, cross country, and today's drill. To a very large extent, the aim of this competition, which is to improve leadership quality, discipline, and develop the level of initiative and cooperation among Gds Bde troops, is been well extended to Gds Bde Cpls and below. Competition for this year
At the end of the Guards Brigade Inter Unit Corporal and Below Competition, which started on Monday, 14th April, 2025 and ended today, 17th April, 2025, the panel of judges collated the results while the Chief Judge announced 7 Guards Battalion Maitama as the Overall winner of the competition with a total of 450 marks, while 102 Guards Battalion Suleja came 2nd with 430 marks, Guards Brigade Garrison Asokoro Abuja came 3rd with 410 marks, 176 Guards Battalion Gwagwalada came 4th with 370 marks while 177 Guards Battalion Keffi came 5th with 340 marks.
Dignitaries at the competition were representatives of various Army formations, including Commanding Officers of the various competing battalions, the Commander Guards Brigade Garrison, the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, the Commandant of NSCDC, and the Head of Naval Unit Abuja, among others.
This Corporals and Below Competition, which commenced on Mon, 14 Apr 25, has been a true testament to the dedication and professionalism of this elite formation and it serves as a platform for participants to demonstrate their skills, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to service, thereby contributing to the overall effectiveness and readiness of the brigade in fulfilling its paramount role in safeguarding national security.
