NDA Cadets Make History, Become Only International Competitors in Maiden Chinese Military Sailing Skills Competition
In a historic moment for Nigeria, seven cadets from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) proudly represented their country as the only international competitors at the inaugural People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy “Deep Sea Warrior” International Seamanship Competition. The competition, hosted by the PLA Naval Submarine Academy, took place at the Qingdao International Sailing Centre from October 16th to 21st, 2023.
The NDA cadets, consisting of six males and one female, namely Cadets TS Olajide, JO Ughasoro, OD Hassan, JP Offikwu, AS Mohammed, K Nsirim, and MS Umana, spent a week in China participating in various events alongside midshipmen from seven other countries and overseas cadets studying at China’s naval academies. While other countries participated as observers, the Nigerian cadets courageously competed against their Chinese counterparts, showcasing their skills and determination.
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The Commandant of NDA, Major General JO Ochai, commended the cadets for their bravery and exceptional performance in the competition. He attributed their success to the new cadets training curriculum recently implemented by the Academy. This curriculum aims to equip graduates with modern warfare skills, enabling them to seamlessly integrate into the Nigerian Armed Forces and address the ongoing security challenges in the country.
Major General Ochai highlighted the recent achievements of NDA cadets on national and international platforms. Cadet PO Okoh received the prestigious Hudson’s Horse Award for Particular Merit at the Passing Out Parade of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK in August 2023. Additionally, Cadet HY Nurudeen was awarded Best International Officer Cadet at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK for September/October 2022. Cadet DO Sangokoya graduated as the Best Allied Cadet at the Royal Airforce College, Cranwell, UK. All three cadets have been commissioned into the Nigerian Armed Forces. Major General Ochai emphasized his commitment to further enhancing training at NDA to produce officers with exceptional skills.
The International Seamanship Competition, held at the Qingdao International Sailing Centre and its surrounding waters, featured various events such as Sailing Skills, Maritime Obstacle Relay Race, Maritime Lifesaving Race, and Team Triathlon. The NDA cadets also engaged in academic exchanges, seminars, visits to naval venues, friendly sporting competitions, and midshipman club activities as part of the Midshipmen Exchange Week. The theme of the week was “Joining Hands to Build a Maritime Community with a Shared Future, And Making the Blue Ocean More Peaceful and Prosperous in Our Era.”
The participation of the seven NDA cadets in the International Seamanship Competition and Exchange Week is a significant milestone for Nigeria. It placed the country on the global map as the first and only nation to compete against the host, China, within its territorial waters. The NDA participants showcased their skills and determination, earning several medals in various categories and making Nigeria proud on the international stage.
This achievement highlights the dedication and commitment of the Nigerian Defence Academy to producing highly skilled officers capable of excelling in international competitions and contributing to the security and development of Nigeria. It serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the new training curriculum implemented by the Academy and offers hope for a brighter future for the Nigerian Armed Forces.
