The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has charged personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to maintain high standards of physical, mental and emotional fitness as part of efforts to sustain operational readiness amid evolving security challenges.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 1 October 2026
Time: 11:03 WAT
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
The CDS gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Chief of Defence Staff Independence Day Military Badminton Championship, organised as part of activities marking Nigeria's 66th Independence Anniversary.
Represented by the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral GJ Kachim, General Oluyede said effective military service requires personnel who are physically and mentally prepared to operate in demanding environments, stressing that operational effectiveness depends on both professional competence and individual readiness.
He said sporting activities contribute to resilience, discipline, concentration, perseverance and teamwork, while strengthening camaraderie among personnel across the three Services.
The CDS added that participation in sports provides military personnel with opportunities to build endurance, mental alertness and team spirit, qualities that support performance under operational pressure.
The championship brought together personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, providing an avenue for inter-Service interaction, healthy competition and talent development.
Earlier, the Director of Defence Sports, Air Vice Marshal Babatunde Philip, said the competition was designed to promote excellence, discipline and sportsmanship, noting that badminton's demands for agility, concentration and precision reflect attributes required in military service.
He also highlighted the contribution of military sports to national development, citing the Nigerian military archery team, which increased its medal haul from one medal in the previous year to seven medals this year.
The event concluded with Lance Corporal Kayode Oyeniro and Corporal Caroline Adaji of the Nigerian Army emerging winners of the mixed doubles final, while Corporal Stephen Otu and Lance Corporal Tanko Nehemiah of the Nigerian Air Force finished as runners-up.
🏷️ Tags: Olufemi Oluyede, Nigerian Armed Forces, Military Fitness, Operational Readiness, Defence Sports, Independence Day
#ZigPressRelease #ZigDiariesDefence #NigerianArmedForces #OlufemiOluyede #OperationalReadiness #MilitarySports
~2.png)
0 Comments