Having put up a sterling performance, Abyssinia Battalion surpassed three other battalions to emerge winner at the just concluded Cadets’ Brigade Inter – Battalion Cross Country Competition held at the NDA Permanent Site complex.



At the 18km cross country dash involving the 4 regular cadets’ battalions, Abyssinia Battalion put up an impressive show, scoring an aggregate of 4180 points to clinch the Champion’s Trophy ahead of the other battalions. Closely following Abyssinia Battalion was Dalet Battalion with 3950 points, while Mogadishu and Burma Battalions came in 3rd and 4th with 3835 points and 3795 points, respectively.




Prior to announcing the overall results, the Chief Judge of the competition, Commander A Ohide, had announced winners in the Individual Categories. In the Male Individual Category, NDA/9674 SS Samuel of Abyssinia battalion emerged 1st with the best time of 59 minutes, 20 seconds. NDA/9554 PK Iduma also of Abyssinia Battalion came 2nd, recording a time of 1 hour, 35 seconds, while NDA/9729 EO Iseghohimen of Mogadishu Battalion took the 3rd position with a time of 1 hour 1 minute.



In the Individual Female Category, NDA/10404 FE Odunayo of Dalet Battalion took the 1st position with a record time of 1 hour 13 minutes, even as NDA/9909 HH Adams of Burma battalion emerged 2nd with 1 hour 15 minutes 10 seconds, leaving the 3rd position for NDA/9296 CF Nwokoye of Abyssinia Battalion who completed the race in 1 hour 17 minutess.



Individual winners were honoured with medals, which were presented to them by the Cadets Brigade Commander, Brigadier General BA Isandu and the Director of Military Training, Brigadier General OF Azinta.
Making his remarks during the event, the Special Guest of Honour at the Cadets Brigade Inter – Battalion Competition and the Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) CE Okoye, commended the cadets for having trained very hard and invested a lot of effort individually and collectively to compete keenly amongst themselves. He assured the cadets that NDA would continuously provide standard training facilities and would strive to give the cadets the best training. He further disclosed that projects aimed at improving the standard of training were already given priority in order to achieve the ultimate goal.   AVM CE Okoye congratulated the winners and losers and urged them to work harder and improve steadily on their performance, while also appreciating the laudable efforts of the Cadets Brigade and the organizing team for contributing immensely to the successful conduct of the event.



The Cadets Brigade Inter – Battalion Cross Country Competition is an important training activity in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Calendar of Events. It requires a very high level of physical and mental capabilities, which the cadets are expected to display as they participate in cross country regularly in order to develop and acquire skills and techniques to keep fit as they progress in their professional training. The event also provides the Cadets the opportunity to build their confidence, endurance, team work, leadership and physical strength to an appreciable standard required of an Officer Cadet. The aim of the competition is to ensure that products of NDA can compare and compete favourably with those of other military academies around the world. 

For this reason, the Cadets Brigade regularly organizes the inter - battalion cross country competition for all the Cadets in the Academy. The four regular battalions, Abyssinia, Burma, Mogadishu and Dalet battalions lock horns in order to determine the most physically and mentally fit battalion and cadets. It also features individual winners in the male and female categories.

                                                                             
                                                                                 Capt MA Yahaya
                                                                                 NDA PRO.

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