The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (OFR), has applauded the level of competition among teams participating in the ongoing Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball Championship in Lagos.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, the Special Guest of Honor, Major General Henry Tafida, Corp Commander, Nigeria Army Ordinance Corps, praised the commitment and enthusiasm displayed by the teams.
“From the games I have seen so far, I have witnessed a lot of commitment and enthusiasm among the players. To get to this level, you must have invested time, discipline, effort, and dedication. These are qualities Nigerian youths bring into any endeavor when they are determined to excel,” Tafida said.
He noted that Nigeria’s youth, who form the country’s largest demographic, continue to shape the nation’s story in powerful ways. Their energy and creativity, he added, have fueled some of Nigeria’s greatest achievements, particularly in sports, where young talents have brought pride and recognition on the global stage.
“The CDS is a sportsman, so he understands the value of initiatives like this. The competition is already gaining traction, and I am confident that by its second edition, even youths not directly interested in basketball will begin to pay attention. In line with his vision of involving the whole of society in nation-building, this effort will provide great energy,” he said.
Also speaking, Major General Martins Obiora Enendu (rtd), former Deputy Commandant of NAFRC, described the event as a laudable innovation, stressing that sports instill discipline, teamwork, and endurance in young people.
“This event is one of the avenues to keep our youths gainfully engaged and to instill in them virtues that will help society grow,” Enendu stated.
The championship, featuring 12 teams from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States, alongside guest teams from Edo and Delta, will continue on Thursday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. The winners will receive N2 million, while the first and second runners-up will get N1.5 million and N1 million, respectively.
