By Victor Okoye

The celebrant, retired Maj.-Gen. Godwin Umelo, teeing-off during an 18-hole Retirement Kitty organised in his honour at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja on Sunday.(Photo Credit: NAN)

Abuja, Dec. 11, 2023 (NAN) The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, has poured encomiums on retired Maj.-Gen. Godwin Umelo, for his contribution to Nigeria’s history.

Musa made the remarks on the occassion of an 18-hole Retirement Kitty in honour of Umelo held at the TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umelo served in the Nigerian Army for 41 years from 1982 to 2023.

Shortly before his retirement, he was redeployed in January, 2022 from Defence Simulation Centre to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and appointed the Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau.

“We are here to celebrate one of our own Maj.-Gen.  Umelo, and you can see from the crowd those of you that are. It’s extremely very exciting and it shows the kind of person he is.

“It is not everyone that will celebrate that you would have this kind of crowd. 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,” he said.

The CDS urged everyone to continue to pray for the security and peace of the nation.

He extended the warm greetings of the Armed forces, stressing that the recent bomb blast experienced in Kaduna was a mistake and unintentional.

“Please, let’s continue to pray for Nigeria. It’s 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 experience the peace we used to enjoy in Nigeria,” he said.

Retired Brig.-Gen. Shipi noted that the celebrant was his first father figure in the military.

He noted that Gen. Umelo was not only his  friend but was his boss too.

“Interestingly, when I started my military career, Gen. Umelo was a particular 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.

“Also, 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 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,” he said.

Suleiman Abdul, a golfer and friend of the celebrant, said Gen. Umelo reached the peak of his career and deserved to be honoured.

“It is the wish of everyone to rise to the peak of your career, and I think Gen. Umelo has done that.

“Even though he is retiring before his 60th birthday, but that is part of what the service entails.

“He’s been a very good friend and we’ve known ourselves for close to 18 years now and he is a jolly good fellow and that is why friends came along to organise a retirement kitty in his honour.

“We feel that is the greatest honour we can bestow on him,” he said.

Ali Peters, the Vice Captain of TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club said Umelo is a complete gentleman, a fine officer and an average golfer.

“Umelo has been one 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,” he said.

Ekanem Ekwueme, a trustee for the West and Central Africa region of the All Africa Challenge Trophy Association, said was like a father to her and a go-to person.

“We are here today to celebrate Maj.-Gen. 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,” she said.

Robert Kamakech, also a friend of the celebrant and a golfer from Uganda, said he was an outgoing who was 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, and that’s why today we are here to celebrate him,” he said.

Also, Sandra Komakech, the Vice Lady Captain from Uganda, said Gen. Umelo is 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,” she said.

Dr E.S.K Makinde, also a golfer and a friend to the celebrant, said he became a close friend with Gen. Umelo through the golf, adding that he made the army profession very endaring to people.

“As golfers, we belong to the same group together in TYB, that’s Golf & Tour, and we just came back from Uganda together.

“Gen. Umelo is a wonderful person. In fact, he makes the army profession to be endaring to people. He is a gentleman.

“Golf united us together, 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) (www.nannews.ng)