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The Director of Sports at Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, announced that approximately 1,600 athletes will participate in the upcoming Armed Forces Games, scheduled from September 23 to 27 in Kaduna, Nigeria.
At a press briefing, Marquis revealed that the theme for this year’s event is “Enhancing Military Professionalism Through Sports.” The games will feature a variety of sports, including volleyball, basketball, lawn tennis, golf, track and field, combat swimming, obstacle crossing, taekwondo, and kickboxing, among others. In total, 19 sporting events will take place.
Marquis, who also serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, noted that Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights for the African Military Games 2024 in Abuja by the Organisation of African Military Sports. He highlighted that the first edition of the games took place in Kenya 22 years ago, and Nigeria has not hosted it since due to security challenges.
In 2023, the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, accepted the invitation to host the event in Abuja, a decision supported by the current CDS, who is an advocate for sports.
The Armed Forces Games will serve as a selection trial to identify the best athletes to represent Nigeria at the upcoming African Military Games, which will be held from November 18 to 30 in Abuja.
Marquis emphasized that choosing Kaduna as the venue also aims to boost the local economy, inviting sports enthusiasts in the state to attend. He praised Governor Uba Sani for providing facilities such as the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, NDA, NAF Base, and a private range for the competitions.
Regarding the African Military Games, Marquis stated that 44 African nations have expressed interest in participating. A scientific sports conference will take place on November 17 and 18, focusing on various thematic areas within the sporting community. He encouraged the public to submit papers for discussion and noted that the deadline for submissions is September 30.
He underscored the economic benefits of hosting and participating in international sporting events, highlighting that around 3,000 athletes and officials are expected in Abuja, which will stimulate economic activity and enhance Nigeria’s positive image in the sporting world.
