The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has poured encomiums on Major. General Godwin Umelo (Rtd) for his contributions to Nigeria’s history.
Musa made the remarks on the occasion of the 18-hole Retirement Kitty in honour of Umelo, held at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umelo served in the Nigerian Army for 41 years from 1982 to 2023.
Before his retirement, Umelo was redeployed in January, 2022 from Defence Simulation Centre to Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and appointed the Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau.
“We are here to celebrate one of our own Maj. Gen. Godwin Umelo.
“You can see from the crowd, those of you that are here, it’s extremely very exciting and
It shows the kind of person Gen. Umelo is. It is not everyone that will celebrate that you would have this kind of crowd.”So, I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone for being here. I am extremely grateful and honoured to be here as the guest of honour.”So sir, we want to thank you for all you have done; your service to humanity, especially to the Armed Forces.
“Umelo is one year my senior and I have learnt a lot from him. We wish you the very best and I know you are going to be here and will continue to do more.”The CDS urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country.
He extended warm greetings from the Armed forces, stressing that the recent bomb blast in Kaduna was a mistake and unintentional.
“Please, let’s continue to pray for Nigeria; it is the only country we have, we don’t have any other country.
“We are going through challenges now because of the last bomb blast; we repeat that it was a mistake and not deliberate. We can’t harm civilians, we will always protect our own.
“Let’s continue to pray for the Armed Forces so that we can get the peace we used to enjoy in Nigeria,” Musa said.
In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Shipi (Rtd) said the celebrant was his first father-figure in the military.
“I am a friend of the celebrant and his boy too, not just a friend.
“Interestingly, when I started my military career, Gen. Umelo was a senior cadet; we were in the academy together, but he was my senior.
“He was the senior cadet placed in charge of training my own course.
“So, as far as my military career is concerned, he was the first father that I had in the army.
“On graduation from the academy, we were all posted and served in the artillery together.
“In the process, we’ve been to so many places together and he was among those that even drew me into the game of golf as well.
“So, my relationship with him is such a long and interesting one and that’s why I call him my friend,” Shipi said.
Suleiman Abdul, a golfer and friend of the celebrant, said Gen. Umelo successfully reached the peak of his career and deserved to be honoured.
Ali Peters, the Vice Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club described Umelo as a complete gentleman, a fine officer and an average golfer.
“Umelo has been one of the supporters of this golf course, a fantastic gentleman, a father, brother, uncle and a mentor to so many of us who have been here.
“I have had the privilege of meeting him on the golf course as golf is a game that brings different people together from different backgrounds and professions.
“We’ve come here to celebrate him as he retires from the Army after a long time of meritorious service.
“He has done very well and we are happy that he is alive and still on this golf course as we are going to continue playing with him,” Peters said.
Ekanem Ekwueme, a trustee for the West and Central Africa region of the All Africa Challenge Trophy Association, said Umelo was like a father to her and a go-to person.
“We are here today to celebrate Maj. Gen. Godwin Umelo.
“Of course, you know I am married to an Igbo man, so I refer to the celebrant as my husband.
“I am sure everybody has said he is a go-to person; that I am a trustee today of course, he was involved in the success of my election.
“He is a father and a friend to all of us; he is like a stronghold for this golf club.
“Golf brought us together and it is a relationship that I am sure will go a very long way,” Ekwueme said.
Robert Komakech, also a friend of the celebrant and a golfer from Uganda, described the celebrant as outgoing and very passionate about the game of golf.
“Gen. Umelo is a jolly good fellow and I am very happy for him that he has come to the end of his career; it’s been a delightful one for him, I must say.
“As a person, he is a very good individual, a lovely friend, very outgoing and passionate about the game of golf.
“He’s got a great heart and he loves people; that’s why today we are here to celebrate him,” Komakech said.
Also, Sandra Komakech, the Vice Lady Captain from Uganda, said Gen. Umelo was a driving force and an amazing human being.
“He is a driving force at the TYB Club and our go-to person.
“When we are all over the place, he brings sanity back to the club.
“So, it’s really been nice and I have known him for the past four years; he is indeed an amazing human being,” Komakech said.
Dr E.S.K Makinde, also a golfer and a friend to the celebrant, said:
“As golfers, we belong to the same group together in TYB, that’s the Golf & Tour; we just came back from Uganda together.
“Gen. Umelo is a wonderful person, in fact, he makes the army profession endearing to people; he is a gentleman.
“Golf united us and, probably, I wouldn’t have known him if not for golf.
“We met on the golf course and became friends and he’s been a wonderful fellow ever since,” he said.
NAN reports that Oluwatosin Ilori emerged as champion of the event with the best nett after she played off handicap 27 with a gross score of 87 and 60 nett.
Saturday Otubor won the prize for overall best gross after he posted a total score of 73 over 18 holes.Maj. Gen. E.N. Salami took home the best nett award for the retired military personnel category after he played off handicap 16 with a gross score of 86 and 67 nett. (NAN)
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