The Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, has stressed the critical importance of physical and mental fitness among members of the Armed Forces, noting that well-prepared troops remain essential to national security and effective service delivery.
Oluyede made the remarks through the Director of Defence Administration, Semiu Adepegba, at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Chief of Defence Staff Inter-Service Archery Competition held in Abuja on Friday.
According to the defence chief, the demanding nature of military duties requires personnel to maintain high levels of physical, mental and emotional fitness in order to effectively confront the country’s evolving security challenges. He explained that the Armed Forces must remain prepared at all times to defend the nation’s territorial integrity and support civil authorities when necessary.
“It is mandatory that men and women of our Armed Forces keep fit physically, mentally and emotionally to cope with the enormous demands and challenges of our values as well as aspirations as a nation. It is when personnel are fit that effective service delivery can be assured,” he said.
The defence chief noted that beyond physical conditioning, mental alertness and emotional stability are equally important for troops who often operate in high-pressure and unpredictable environments. He added that maintaining total fitness helps military personnel to make sound decisions, respond quickly to threats, and carry out operations with professionalism and discipline.
Speaking on the significance of the archery competition, Oluyede said the event was not just about sports, but also about building core military values and strengthening unity among personnel drawn from different branches of the Armed Forces. He said competitions of this nature help to instill discipline and encourage healthy rivalry among the services while promoting teamwork and mutual respect.
According to him, the competition helped to reinforce important military values such as integrity, precision, intensity, innovation and excellence. He explained that archery as a sport requires concentration, patience, accuracy and self-control — qualities that are directly relevant to military training and operations.
He further stated that the Inter-Service competition has continued to serve as a platform for discovering hidden talents within the Armed Forces while also promoting physical fitness and mental resilience among officers and soldiers. The event, he added, also strengthens camaraderie and cooperation among the Army, Navy and Air Force, which is essential for joint operations.
Military officials present at the event noted that joint sporting activities have become an important part of military culture, helping to build morale and foster unity across the different services. They explained that modern security challenges often require joint operations, making cooperation and mutual understanding among the services very important.
Oluyede reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces to continuous training, capacity building and personnel development, stressing that a well-trained and fit military remains the backbone of national defence and internal security operations.
He also commended the participants for their discipline, sportsmanship and dedication throughout the competition, urging them to continue to maintain high standards of professionalism in their respective units and formations.
The Chief of Defence Staff concluded by reiterating that the Armed Forces will continue to invest in training, sports and welfare programmes aimed at improving the overall wellbeing of military personnel, noting that a motivated, healthy and united force is critical to safeguarding the nation and supporting its development aspirations.
