The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major-General Adebayo Babalola, has commended the professionalism, resilience, determination, and competitive spirit demonstrated by the troops of the division during the Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (WOs/SNCOs) Combat Proficiency Competition 2026.
   
The competition, which concluded on June 18, 2026, at 192 Battalion Rear, Owode-Yewa in Ogun State, featured weapon handling and shooting, combat swimming, map reading and navigation, physical fitness tests and obstacle crossing, among other events.
   
Participating formations included 9 Brigade, Ikeja, 35 Artillery Brigade, Abeokuta, 45 Engineer Brigade, and 81 Division Garrison, Obalende. At the end of the competition, 45 Engineer Brigade emerged overall champion, followed by 35 Artillery Brigade, 9 Brigade, and 81 Division Garrison, respectively.
   
Represented by the Division Training Officer (DTO), Brigadier-General Hassan Muhammad Bello, the GOC commended the officials and umpires for their professionalism and commitment, noting that the high standards displayed throughout the exercise reflected the quality of leadership within the participating formations.
   
He further commended the participants for their outstanding performance, stating that the competition reinforced the critical role of WOs and SNCOs in sustaining operational effectiveness and combat readiness in the Nigerian Army. Also congratulating the winners, he urged them to sustain the standards that earned them victory.
   
Meanwhile, in his vote of thanks, the Commander 81 Division Garrison, Brigadier-General Ahmed Getso, described the competition as a successful demonstration of the discipline, teamwork, resilience and professionalism that remain hallmarks of the Nigerian Army.
   
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, through the GOC 81 Division, for providing the necessary support for the exercise, and appreciated all personnel who contributed to its success.
   
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of trophies, prizes and awards to the winning formations.