Africa Military Games Make Historic Comeback In Abuja After Two Decades

 

The 2^nd edition of the Africa Military Games officially kicked off on Wednesday, 20 November 2024, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria, marking the return of the event after a 22-year break.

The vibrant opening ceremony was presided over by Vice President H.E. Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

In his keynote speech, Vice President Shettima lauded the games as a vital platform for bolstering African security, cultural exchange, and unity. He praised the Organisation for Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) and the 26 participating nations for promoting Pan-Africanism. “This initiative keeps the fire of brotherhood burning,” he remarked, stressing the games’ importance in fostering solidarity across the continent.

Among the standout delegations is Uganda’s, led by Brigadier General Richard Karemire, the Joint Staff Formal Education, Sports, and Culture of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF). Uganda’s athletes are competing in boxing, track, and field events.

The ceremony also featured a dazzling display of military pageantry, traditional performances, and the symbolic lighting of the games’ torch.

Notable attendees included Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Hon Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, alongside other senior military officials.