Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Salami emerges overall golf winner
By Ijeoma Okigbo
Retired Maj.-Gen. B.N. Salami has emerged the overall best net winner of the 2024 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day Golf Tournament in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the golf tournament played at the I.E. IBAS Golf Club, Karshi was organised by the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF).
Salami playing off handicap 23 with a gross score of 77, and 54 net won the overall best net prize in the retirees category for handicap 19 to 28.
Anebi E.O. playing off handicap 16 with 86 gross and 67 net emerged best gross in the category.
Ayanbode A.O. playing off handicap 17 with a gross score of 81 and 64 net finished tops in the Serving men category, while Ayomanor D.A. with 64 gross emerged as best gross in the category.
Deborah John won the over best net prize in the Guest Ladies’ category after she played off handicap 36 with a gross score of 99, and 63 net to beat Tessy Johnson on countback.
Rose Nyam playing off handicap 20 with a gross score of 85 and 65 net emerged as best gross in the Guest Ladies’ category.
Rebecca Danladi, playing off handicap 25 with a gross score of 87 and 62 net took home the top prize in the Serving Ladies category.
Hauwa A. playing off handicap 16 with a gross score of 83 and 67 net emerged as best gross in the category.
Salami told NAN on the sidelines of the award on Tuesday that he was elated and proud to have won the best net prize.
“I feel highly elated because the game of golf is life itself.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Service Chiefs for putting this together to honour our departed troops.
“I also use this opportunity to encourage the populace to continue to lend their support to the troops, so that they will be able to achieve their goal of securing the lives of citizens in the country,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by AVM Nkem Aguiyi, said that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day was a special event to celebrate the country’s fallen heroes as well as the living veterans and serving personnel.
“The Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is an annual event to celebrate the nation’s fallen heroes who lost their lives in active service as well as honour veterans of the world wars and the civil war.
“It is also to celebrate the living veterans and serving personnel who work tirelessly to safeguard the sovereignty of the nation, while ensuring peace and security for social and economic activities to thrive.
“Globally, the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is celebrated on Nov. 11, known as the ‘Armistice Day’.
“However, with the surrender of Biafra on Jan. 15, 1970, which marked the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day is now celebrated in Nigeria on Jan. 15 annually.”
According to him, the celebration features several activities including parades, wreath laying ceremony, corporate and social responsibility and civil-military related activities, including sporting events.
He explained that sporting activities had a special place in the history of the celebration.
“It helps in developing both physical and mental alertness, including the well-being of personnel.
“It is for this reason that a golf tournament is included as part of activities to mark the year 2024 Armed forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
“Golfing as a game also promotes social interactions, thereby building teamwork and ‘esprit de corps’.
“Little wonder that the game of golf has captured the interest of both serving and retired military personnel with so many veterans being active golfers.
“With this in mind, we are hosting the year 2024 Armed forces Celebration and Remembrance Day at the Vice Admiral I.E. Ibas Golf course.
“Vice Admiral I.E. Ibas Golf course was particularly chosen for this event to depict the dynamic nature of the Armed Forces.
“The TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club was used for this event last year,” Gen. Musa said.
on his part, Real Admiral Julius Nwagwu, the Captain of I.E. Ibas Golf Club, said it was a privilege to host the special event at the club.
“It is a good way for me to start my tenure as the new captain of the Club, having taken over the captainship from my predecessor a week ago.
“It is also an opportunity for the golfing community, the Armed Forces, and beyond to know that the I.E. Ibas Golf Club is alive and ready to contain every golfer.
“We are working assiduously to ensure that this course, in the next six months can compete with any Golf course in the FCT and beyond,” Nwagwu said.
Similarly, Dr Chioma Acholonu, the Lady Captain of I.E. Ibas Golf Club said it was a memorable event to remember the nation’s fallen heroes.
“To God be the glory; they are being remembered because they stood for this country.
“As a member of the club and particularly the wife of an Admiral, I know what it takes to hold the home front while they are there defending our great nation, Nigeria.
“So today, when it is heard that the fallen heroes are being remembered, family members and the entire world will always stand and remember them.
“These are great heroes who signed that their lives on earth will be to defend their fatherland and they did that to the glory of God.
“Today, they are no more, but we remember them greatly and they will continue to be remembered because of their selfless service.
“We are grateful that Ibas is holding fort and hosting the tournament,” Acholonu said.
NAN also reports that part of the activities to mark the event was a raffle draw, which saw several persons smile home with consolation prizes, including bags of rice and gallons of vegetable oil to mention a few.
The grand prize, a live cow, was won by chairman of the organising committee, AVM Dalhatu Ladan.
Other special guests at the event were the representative of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Nanjul Kumzhi and the President, Nigeria Golf Federation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Joseph Edeh
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