To promote teamwork and sportsmanship amongst its staff, inter-relationships within the military ranks, civilians in the dockyard, and with other sister agencies, the Naval Dockyard Limited last December kicked off the maiden edition of the Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited, ASNDL, Annual Volleyball Tournament. Sunday Ehigiator reports
It was a remarkable evening of teamwork and sportsmanship on display as the Naval Dockyard Ltd. kicked off the maiden edition of the ASNDL Annual Volleyball Tournament at its premises located in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.
The three-day event featured four teams, including teams from the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL), Western Naval Command, Naval Training Command and Dodan Barracks, alongside their supporters, as they competed to win the maiden trophy of the competition.
According to the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Limited Rear Admiral, Abolaji Orederu, “Each team would play and compete amongst themselves to determine the winners to claim the trophy and other prizes at the tournament’s close.”
Speaking further about the tournament, he said, the “ceremony marks the beginning of the Admiral Superintendent’s Maiden Volleyball Tournament 2023, an event which would be part of an annual end-of-year activity of the Naval Dockyard Limited.
“Aside from being one of the scheduled end-of-the-year activities for the Yard, the tournament is also aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, sporting activities and good comradeship amongst the NDL and its numerous friends from sister services, government and private agencies and friends.
“Also, the tournament aims to strengthen the bonds between the personnel of the Yard and their counterparts in these agencies, building trust and healthy competition while unwinding the stress of a very eventful year.
“Pertinently, the Naval Dockyard Limited organised this volleyball tournament to create further avenues to increase synergy among personnel and civilian partners of the Yard.
“It is believed that it will promote the growth of collaboration between the Yard and other institutions with shared responsibilities, interests and goals within the Navy, Armed Forces of Nigeria and the general public.”
The ceremony had as its Special Guest of Honour, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral MB Hassan, and also had as guest, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Usman.
Other guests include the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Doctrine Command, Rear Admiral Habilla Zakaria, the Managing Director of Admiralty Marine Services Limited, Rear Admiral, Hamza Ibrahim, and the Divisional Police Officer of the Bar Beach Division of the Nigeria Police, CSP Taiwo Adewunmi Oyewale.
In his address, the Special Guest of Honour, Rear Admiral MB Hassan said the tournament is indicative of efforts the Nigerian Navy and the Naval Dockyard, in particular, have put into building and galvanising strategic relationships with sister services, other agencies of government, and the public in line with the mission, vision, and strategic directives of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral, I.E Ogala Admiralty Medal.
According to him, “The institution of this tournament as an annual event of the year was largely inspired by the chief of the Naval Staff and brought to fruition by the admiral superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited, Admiral Bolaji Orederu, typifying the yard’s commitment to key into the vision and mandate of the Navy.
“Today, we are all gathered to watch the opening ceremony of this tournament, which forms part of the Year’s activities to close the year 2023.
“The tournament is a 3-day competition where each team plays and competes with themselves to determine the winner to claim the trophy and other prizes at the end of the tournament.
“Indeed, judging by the level of preparation by the participating teams, the tournament promises to be entertaining and highly competitive. I, therefore, enjoin our extreme guests and participants to support and cheer their team to victory as there is a highly coveted trophy and prize for the winning team and outstanding players.
“Please note that volleyball is virtually like naval operations. Notably, the annual volleyball tournament aims to foster a healthy lifestyle, sportsmanship, and comradeship among the NDL and its numerous friends from sister services, government and private agencies, partners and friends.
“Also, the tournament seeks to consolidate the bond between the personnel of the yard and their counterparts in these agencies; building trust and healthy rivalry while finding time to unwind the stress of an eventful 2023.
“In the same vein, this tournament will create further avenues to increase collaborations and corporations among institutions and personnel of the yard with participating establishments towards achieving shared responsibilities, interests, and goals within the Navy, armed forces of Nigeria and the General Public.
“Finally, I encourage the participating teams to demonstrate good sportsmanship, teamwork, integrity, and professionalism, which are the core ethics of the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Nigeria.”
Following the official opening of the tournament, the Naval Dockyard Limited (NDL) was pitched to play the Dodan Barracks team as the tournament’s first match.
The match saw Dodan Barracks Team defeating NDL by 25 points to 23 in the first set, losing 12 points to 25 in the second set, before going on to win the third set by 18 points to 11 points in the last set to clinch the first victor of the tournament after winning two sets.
Other matches were scheduled to follow through the remaining two days of the competition.
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The tournament aims to strengthen the bonds between the personnel of the Yard and their counterparts in these agencies, building trust and healthy competition while unwinding the stress of a very eventful year
