THE NATION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
30
SOUTHWEST REPORT
Golf patrons honoured at tournament
I
S
ATISFIED with the contributions towards the growth and development of the Tiger Golf Club (TGC) and Ibadan Golf Club (IGC) by the immediate past patron, Gen. Sanusi Nasiru Muazu and his successor, Gen. Lazarus Chima Ilo, the clubs have organised a farewell and welcome golf tournament in their honour. Gen. Muazu was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army, and Gen. Lazarus Chima Ilo is the current patron of the club and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army. In his address at the closing ceremony, the Captain, Tiger Golf Club, Chief Olatunji Aderoju said the club has been lucky over the years to have GOCs that have significant love for it. “Bringing their wealth of experience to bear, every patron has impacted positively on the club in many ways,” he said. Chief Aderoju praised Gen. Muazu for his numerous development programmes which he said have taken the club to an appreciable height. These, he said, include construction of new block of chalets which comprised 18 self-contained rooms; construction of new golf holes; building of new practising green and invitations to his friends to donate for the different projects executed. He said: “Major-Gen. S.N. Muazu spent approximately seven months here and by the time he left; many members were wondering if it was possible for anyone to have done so much for the club within such a short time. Before he was called up to a higher service, he initiated new and profound ideas that
From left: Vice Captain, Ibadan Golf Glub, Mr. Sikiru Idowu Salami, Chief Aderoju, Gen. Ilo and Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN). By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie Responding, Gen Ilo said golf is a even as he promised to continue the
took the club to an enviable height. The club will not forget easily this person who influenced the present numerical growth of the club through his aggressive membership drive.” Praising the incoming patron of the clubs, Aderoju said the clubs were privileged to have him, expressing confidence that he would take the club to even greater heights. Already, he has been credited with providing security to the club whenever the need arises. Also speaking, the chairman, organising committee, Mr. Alfred Amubioya stated that the event was a unique one, in the sense that it was the first time Tiger and Ibadan Golf Clubs jointly coordinated a golf event to honour patrons of both clubs. He said he was optimistic that captains of both clubs will continue to build on this new found co-operation.
very important game in the Armed Forces, saying it was the only game he had seen senior generals participate in several years after retirement. He added that the Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Yusuf Buraitai places priority on sports as part of measures to reposition the Nigerian Army and make it more responsive to its statutory roles. Gen. Ilo promised to do his utmost to ensure that he and his officers developed greater interest in golf as well as uplift the clubs. “The two clubs have prospered and have done very well under the previous patrons. They will not witness a decline in fortune during my period. I will do what is essential for him to surpass whatever had been achieved in the past. I consider it a great and special privilege and also a challenge,” he said. He urged captains of both clubs to meet with him to discuss areas where most profound impact can be made,
chalet project begun by his predecessor. “We will not abandon the accommodation project Gen. Muazu had begun before he left as patron. I see it as a revenue project deserving extreme attention and I think all hands being on deck, we will accomplish it,” he said. However, Ilo sought help to repair the access road leading to the clubs. “The presentation of our special guest of honour poses a greater challenge. The bad state of the road is somewhat a problem. The army cannot do it alone. I believe that with the support of all the great men here, we will be able to do something about the road in the shortest possible time,” he said. He commended the chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Akin Oke, for finding time to attend the ceremony, adding that his presence would make things happen with regard to fixing the road.
RKED by the deplorable state of the public health centre at Ibafon community in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ogun State, two groups, Sahara Group and Ovoteri Limited have carried out reconstruction work on the health centre. Before the renovation exercise, the building showed signs of dilapidation, so much so that the walls looked dirty, dirty; malodorous and boasts obsolete equipment, with minimal manpower. But after the renovation, the once putrid structure radiates beauty, modern equipment, borehole, power generating set and car park, among other modern facilities. The gesture was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to the community and its residents. The project was in two phases. The first phase comprised structural renovation which entailed removal of the worn out tiles, painting, replacement of the ceiling sheets, sinking of borehole, fixing of toilet seats, doors and door handles, while the second phase consists of supplies of the needed equipment in the health centre. Hitherto, the health centre which has only six bed spaces opens during the week days and closes at the weekend due to various factors such as unavailability of water, lack of electricity supply and lack of a power generating set. Currently, the health centre has been well equipped both in terms of facilities and personnel. Both members of staff and the resident doctors are eager to provide 24-hour services for the patients. One of the resident doctors, Mrs Islamiyya Baruwa, a Corps member said she is willing to stay back after her service year to work at the health centre because a lot of things have changed positively since the renovation was carried out. “Initially, I had no desk to work on. Also the instruments were
Experts advocate safe maritime environment
T
HE need for enhanced maritime security across Africa was the thrust of the second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Conference held in Lagos. With about 20 countries and a total of 247 ýparticipants, including naval personnel, the two-day event highlighted the need for cooperation and teamwork among the sister navies. Organised by the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC), delegates reviewed the security challenges bedevilling African maritime environment with a view to proffering long-lasting solutions. Top among the challenges was lack of right platforms such as OPVs, to fight the activities of pirates, oil thieves, illegal bunkerers, illegal fishers and sea robbers, thereby boosting economic activities on the African Continent. With the theme “Facilitating Co-operation Across Africa and Focusing on Naval System and Coastal Surveillance to Enhance Maritime Security”, the conference also provided opportunity for associate sponsors to exhibit their security and defence equipment designed for the protection of oil and gas assets. In attendance were the Chief of
•From second left, Rear Admiral FU Ogbole; Maj- Gen. By Precious Igbonwelundu
Naval Staff (CNS) Vice-Admiral IboEte Ibas, Commander, Angolan Navy Admiral Augusto Da Silva Cunha; Commander of Ghanaian Navy, Vice Admiral Biekro; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila and DirectorGeneral, Nigerian Maritime Security and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro. Others included Chief of Naval Transformation, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade; Rear Admiral Goddy Ayankpele, Flag Officers Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) and Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admirals Jonathan Ango, Edmund Egbedina and Henry Babalola respectively, and chairman, conference planning committee, Rear Admiral Begroy IbeEnwo. Delegates highlighted the need for information sharing among neighbouring countries to effectively combat maritime crimes, just as they de-
Isidore Edet, Air Vice Marshal U.E. Ebong and Admiral Kontom
liberated on enhancing regional policing with combined forces. The participants acknowledged the importance of collaborative partnership among the various stakeholders for integrated approach in tackling the challenge of maritime security in Africa, even as they noted the need for progressive change at all levels in maritime security issues since present methods were deemed to be unsatisfactory and ineffective. Maritime nations were advised to develop and optimise bilateral and multi-lateral agreements to mitigate maritime threats as well as establish Maritime Security Zones which should be implemented with commitment. In his opening and closing remarks, Ibas reminded participants of the strategic nature of African maritime domain with enormous potential that have been persistently challenged by a myriad of threats. The CNS noted that the threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic well-being of member nations, even
as he pointed out the need for the enthronement of constructive, proactive, sustainable and holistic maritime security architecture. “Regrettably, these threats constitute serious challenges with adverse consequences on collective maritime governance and economic well-being of nation states, particularly in Africa. “As discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable. Accordingly, Africa needs to be committed in embracing core attributes such as the elimination of sea blindness. “Deriving from this subregional agenda, Nigeria, acting through her Navy, has remained committed to the activation of the zone’s activities in terms of staff, equipment and operational assets. “In addition, the Nigerian Navy, along with its Zone E counterparts, has successfully obtained the permission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to host regular meetings of Heads of Navies of Zone E states. In his remark, the special guest of
•Admiral Cunha
As discomforting as these threats would appear, they are not insurmountable. Accordingly, Africa needs to be committed in embracing core attributes such as the elimination of sea blindness honour, Ismaila noted the necessity to step up surveillance activities along