The Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku has reiterated the importance of FAAN annual sports competition organised by the agency, as vital tool for physical and mental development of staff at meeting the demands of their duties in airports across the country.
Kuku made this known while declaring open the annual sports competition at the FAAN Secondary School in Lagos.
She also emphasized the importance of sports as enhancers of staff wellbeing and productivity.
The CE of FAAN, who was represented by the Director of Airport Operations, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, noted that the sporting programme was not just to compete for laurels but as a platform to foster teamwork, discipline, and unity among workers, for the effective operations of the nation’s airports.
According to her, “Sports help in building resilience, promoting physical fitness, and enhancing mental alertness,”
She therefore urged participants to exhibit fair play and camaraderie throughout the competition.
Mahmood who led other top management staff, including the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Lukman Eniola, to perform the kick-off ceremony, echoed the call for fair play and teamwork.
The opening ceremony featured a novelty football match between management staff teams, tagged Team Blue and Team Yellow, comprising both male and female players drawn from different directorates.
Organisers of the competition explained that the novelty match was designed to boost staff morale, improve team cohesion, and foster a sense of community within the organisation.
Other activities at the opening ceremony included inter-directorate cycling events, involving participation from male and female cyclists across all departments.
The opening football match of the day was between the defending champion, Directorate of Aviation Security Services (DASS) and Directorate of Engineering Services (DES), after the tense encounter, DES defeated DASS by 1-0.
Speaking after the match, Dr. Eniola commended the participants and described the opening day as “a good start,” insisting that the objective of bringing staff together under the spirit of friendship and competition has been achieved.
He therefore urged all teams to maintain the spirit of fair play while striving for victory, adding that the competition would also serve as a platform to identify talented players who will represent FAAN at inter-agency and Civil Service Games.
“At the end of the competition, we hope to select a strong team that will represent FAAN at the Civil Service Games and compete favourably with other aviation agencies,” he said.
It would be recalled that DASS emerged champions after defeating the Managing Director/Directorate of Legal Services (MD/DLS) 5-4 on penalties, after a 2-2 draw at regulation time.
The Directorate of Airport Operations (DAO) finished third after edging the DES 6-5 on penalties in a thrilling encounter.
Organisers of the competition added that this year’s edition of the competition promises more excitement as staff from various directorates compete for glory, unity, and wellness; reflecting the Authority’s belief that sports are essential to building a healthy, motivated, and productive workforce.
