By Nkechi Eze
The International Day for Military Sports Run, marked annually by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), aims to foster unity, collaboration, and shared principles of sportsmanship among military personnel worldwide.
Established in 1948, CISM has grown into a global organization with 180 member nations, promoting peace and friendship through sports.
In Nigeria, the event provides a platform for the country’s military personnel to come together, promote physical fitness, and showcase their athletic prowess. This year’s celebration, held in Abuja, brought together military personnel, paramilitary, and other security forces to participate in a 5-kilometer walk/run, emphasizing the importance of fitness in their line of duty and the “Friendship Through Sports” values of CISM/OSMA.
In his address, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, emphasized importance of military personnel, paramilitary, and other security forces maintaining a high level of physical, mental, and overall fitness.
Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Adm. Joseph Akpan, Chief of Defence Administration, issued a call to action after participating in a 5-kilometer walk in Abuja on Saturday 1 March, as part of the 2025 International Day for Military Sports Run celebrations.
“Let me remind us, especially those of us who wear uniform, military, paramilitary, that for us to remain fit, we must indeed imbibe the attitude of doing personal sport.
“As we serve in that utmost duty to bring peace to our dear nation, sports help you to remain physically, mentally and otherwise, fit.
“I want you to also promise yourself to keep the flag flying and maintain fitness.
“Let us also remember that as we are gathered here, we have our brothers in arms, members of the armed forces and other paramilitary services that are currently involved in one conflict or the other. We remember them today as they serve in that utmost duty to bring peace to our dear nation.” He said.
The CDS further thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering support to the armed forces.
Maj.-Gen. Maikano Abdullahi, Vice President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), highlighted that the United Nations has designated a special day to celebrate the unity of armed forces worldwide through sports, shifting focus from combat to camaraderie.
Abdullahi highlighted that the 78-year-old organization, which comprises 180 member countries including 48 African nations, with Nigeria among them, is guided by the motto “Friendship Through Sports”.
“Now this organization has 180 members all over the world. In Africa, we have 44 members of this organization and Nigeria is one of them. Nigeria joined this organization in 1972, with the first chief delegate, our former head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo.
“ We have 52 chief delegates from Nigeria, that delegate Nigerian for all the CISM, and OSMA activities in the world.” He said.
Maj. Abdullahi reiterated that CISM day was also to pay tribute to the founding principles of CISM, which was friendship, solidarity and fair play in search of a peaceful co-existence, the world over.
“Today we also mark and celebrate the power of sports to bridge the cultural diversities and fostering comradeship among the members of our armed forces and other security agencies.
“As we look to the future of CISM and OSMA, this year, we are organising African Military Boxing Championship in Rabat Morocco; African Military Football Championship in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea and African Military Basketball Championship in Guinea, Conakry.
“We are also organising the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff 2nd edition of Sahel countries Games in N’Djamena, Republic of Chad.
“This is all with a view to promote the values of CISM/OSMA, which is Friendship Through Sports,” he said.
According to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, participating in sports can have a profoundly positive impact on individuals. Bashir noted that engaging in sporting activities helps instill essential values like discipline, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Adeniyi emphasized that the service acknowledges the mental and physical prowess of sportsmen, which enables them to excel in various areas, including revenue generation, combating smuggling, and other challenges.
“every sportsman is mentally and physically fit. So we need to promote all of these ideals in customs so that we are not just winning in terms of revenue generation or fighting smuggling, we win in all fronts.
“this is why we’re trying to invest as much as we can in sports development, and I am glad that we’re getting results, I was quite delighted when we got this invite to join our colleagues to celebrate.
Bashir noted that beyond the physical activity of walking, they have gained valuable social benefits. He expressed his delight and satisfaction with the investments they have made in sports, both individually and in partnership with others.
“Beyond the five kilometer walk, we have received comradeship, networking and friendship and so we are indeed very, very delighted for all the investments we’ve done in sports within ourselves and the ones we do in collaboration with other stakeholders.” He said
According to him, the customs service has been consistently and strategically developing its sports programs with the ultimate goal of rivaling the military’s athletic prowess in the not-too-distant future, thereby fostering a spirit of healthy competition and excellence between the two institutions.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to dignitaries.
