The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has stressed that the operational effectiveness of the military depends heavily on the physical and mental fitness of its personnel.
Oluyede, who was represented by the Director of Defence Administration, Semiu Adepegba, made this known on Friday during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Chief of Defence Staff Inter-Service Archery Competition held in Abuja.
He stated that the demands of modern military operations require personnel to maintain peak physical, mental, and emotional readiness.
“It is mandatory that men and women of our Armed Forces keep fit physically, mentally and emotionally to cope with the enormous demands and challenges of our values as well as aspirations as a nation.
“It is when personnel are fit that effective service delivery can be assured,” he said.
The defence chief noted that beyond competition, the event was designed to reinforce core military values such as discipline, integrity, precision, and excellence, while also strengthening unity and esprit de corps among the services.
He added that the competition doubles as a selection platform for Team Armed Forces of Nigeria ahead of upcoming local and international archery championships, describing the initiative as a strategic blend of physical conditioning and talent identification.
Oluyede further argued that at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with multifaceted security challenges, non-kinetic measures such as sporting activities remain critical in boosting morale and enhancing operational performance.
According to him, archery as a sport embodies concentration, resilience, and mental discipline—qualities he said are directly transferable to combat and tactical environments.
The event, he said, witnessed a high level of professionalism, intense rivalry, and exceptional performance from participants across the services.
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At the end of the competition, the army emerged overall winner, clinching four gold, four silver, and three bronze medals.
The navy followed in second place with three gold, five silver, and two bronze medals, while the air force finished third.
The annual inter-service competition is part of ongoing efforts by the military high command to improve fitness levels, sharpen precision skills, and foster teamwork within the military.
It also serves as a pipeline for identifying athletes who will represent Nigeria in regional and global military sporting events.
