The Inspector General of Police,IGP M.A Adamu unveiled the Logo and Mascot of the 12th Nigeria Police Biennial Games today at Police Headquarters, Abuja.
While unveiling the logo and mascot for the games,IGP Adamu said sports played a crucial element in policing, because as a physically tasking and mentally demanding profession, in which every police officer is expected to maintain a very high level of physical well-being and mental alertness in order to aid in the optimal performance of their duties. He said sporting activities act as a vehicle for achieving this professional objective.
IGP Adamu remarks read in part:
In addition, the principles of comradeship, fairness, discipline, resilience and focus which regulate sports are also important elements that every police officer is expected to imbibe in order to remain on high professional pedestal. Hence, sporting events like the Police Games provide an opportunity to enhance camaraderie among ourselves as Police officers on the one hand, as well as with our colleagues in the Armed Forces and other security agencies on the other hand. This synergy is vital to building inter-agency trust which is critical to the advancement of our national security interests.
Beyond this, the Police Games is a strategic engagement that presents us with the opportunity to entertain and build goodwill with the general public in a manner that will fill the trust gap, strengthen confidence building between the citizens and the police, and accelerate the attainment of our Community Policing goals.
In practical terms, the event provides us a platform to discover sporting talents in the Nigeria Police who would re-enact the heroic and historic performances of the likes of our own ACP Chioma Ajunwa, who at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA, attained the feat of becoming the first athlete from Nigeria to win an Olympic gold medal, and who to date, remains Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medalist.
We are also desirous of re-producing the likes of late SP Sunday Bada who won three medals at the World Indoor Championships, including a gold medal in 1997, set a national record in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2000 Olympics, where he led the Nigerian team to win gold medals after the disqualification of the USA.
Our target is also to take advantage of the Games to produce another Samuel Peters, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ who rode on the opportunities that the Nigeria Police Games provided him to become the WBC Heavyweight Champion. We intend to discover great footballers that will restore the glory of the Nigeria Police Football Team, the ‘Police Machine’ and the Female Police Football Team.
It is in cognisance of these that the Police Games have evolved over the years to become an integral part of the rich history and proud tradition of the Nigeria Police. In this regard, the 12th Nigeria Police Biennial Games will feature over twenty events which are expected to present a great spectacle for the relaxation and enjoyment of all our guests. I therefore, seize this opportunity to invite all and sundry to Anambra State to enjoy the Games with us.
I wish to particularly, solicit the support of our friends in the media in ensuring the widest possible coverage for the Games. In furtherance to this, the Office of the Force Public Relations Officer will be releasing a jingle for broadcast to sensitize the public and create awareness on the Games.
I will like to express our immense gratitude to His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, our host and the main sponsor of the Games. We assure Your Excellency that the good people of Anambra State shall be treated to one of the best sporting experiences in justification of your huge investment in the Games. It is our hope that others will join hands with His Excellency and the Nigeria Police in ensuring a successful and eventful Games.
At this juncture, it is my honour and rare privilege to invite Their Excellencies, the Executive Governor of Anambra State; the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs and the Honourable Minister for Youths and Sports to please join me in unveiling the Logo and Mascot of the 12th Nigeria Police Games which is tagged ‘Anambra 2020’
I thank you all for the honour of your attendance and I look forward to seeing you again at the event proper in Awka, Anambra State.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of Nigeria Police Sports Committee,AIG Usman B. Alkali, stated that the unveiling of Logo and Mascot of the Games which was the object of this ceremony, will mark the beginning of the media blitz which will sensitise the general public and indeed, the international community to the forthcoming Games.
He said close to 3000 Police athletes from the twelve Zonal Police Commands and the Force Headquarters will be competing for laurels at the Games.
“All the athletes are currently in various camps within their Zones preparing intensely for the Games, and we expect to see some national records fall during the event.
We have emplaced requisite actions directed at ensuring that all the events are competed for in line with internationally acceptable sporting standards. To this end, we are collaborating with the various Sports Associations through the Sports Ministry to provide graded referees and other officials for the Games. Indeed, we are hopeful that with God on our side, this shall turn out to be the best Police Games so far organised by the Nigeria Police.’ Alkali said.
The 12th Nigeria Police Biennial Games will hold in Awka, Anambra State from 29th February to 7th March, 2020
