The Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, says no fewer than 1,600 athletes will compete in the forthcoming Armed Forces Games, 2024. Marquis said this while addressing a press briefing regarding the games, which will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of September in Kaduna.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is: “Enhancing Military Professionalism Through Sports.” Marquis, who also serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the games, added that 19 sporting events would be contested.
He explained that the Organisation of African Military Sports awarded Nigeria the hosting rights for the African Military Games 2024, to be held in Abuja. The chairman said the first edition was held in Kenya 22 years ago, and since then, Nigeria has been unable to host it due to ongoing security challenges during that period.
Marquis recalled that in 2023, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, agreed to host the event in Abuja. “The current CDS, being a lover of sports, accepted to host the event at the same venue,” he said.
Marquis noted that the games would serve as trials, where the best athletes would be selected to represent Nigeria’s Armed Forces in the African Military Games. The African games, he said, would be held from November 18 to 30 in Abuja.
“The objective of the games is to select our team that will represent Nigeria during the African Military Games in Abuja,” he added. The chairman also explained that the CDS chose Kaduna to host the event as part of his contribution to impact the state’s economy.
He invited all sports-loving people of Kaduna State to be part of the competition, stating that it was open to all. He commended Gov. Uba Sani for offering some venues for the Armed Forces to host the event. These include the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, NDA, NAF Base, and a private range for the competition.
Speaking specifically about the forthcoming African Military Games, Marquis disclosed that 44 African nations have so far indicated their interest in being part of the games. He said that between November 17 and 18, there would be a scientific sports conference where various thematic areas related to sports would be discussed.
“We have invited erudite scholars, front-line professors, and practitioners in the sporting ecosystem to deliver papers at the Armed Forces Officers Mess in Abuja. Members of the public are invited to present papers by visiting the website of the African Military Games. The closing date for the submission of papers is the 30th of this month.
“If one is interested in submitting a paper and engaging with us intellectually regarding what we need to do to advance sports in Nigeria, we are open,” he said.
Stressing the impact of hosting and participating in international sporting events, he said that this is why most nations fight tooth and nail to win the hosting rights of such events.
“About 3,000 athletes and officials will be coming to Abuja during this period, economic activities will thrive, and it will project Nigeria positively, highlighting its strength in sporting events,” Marquis said.
NAN also reports that the sporting activities to be contested in the Armed Forces Games 2024 include volleyball and basketball. Others are lawn tennis, golf, track and field, combat swimming, obstacle crossing, taekwondo, and kickboxing, among others.
