146 Battalion Fetes Barracks’ Youths, Widows at End-of-Year Get-Together; Brigade Commander Commissions Projects at Eburutu Barracks

In a show of conviviality for the barracks community, the Commanding Officer, 146 Battalion Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Oyemade Ade Oyewumi hosted youths of Eburutu Military Cantonment for the 3rd edition of Barracks’ Youths Get-together.

This is just as the Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Paul Alimikhena commissioned several infrastructural development projects earlier same day.

Various projects commissioned same day by Commander, 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brig Gen Paul Alimikhena, accompanied by 146 Battalion Commanding Officer, Lt Col Oyemade Oyewumi, at Eburutu Military Cantonment, Calabar, Cross River State.

These epoch-making events took place on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at the 146 Battalion Parade Ground, Eburutu Military Cantonment, Calabar, and attracted youths, widows, corps members, and families living in the barracks, as well as military personnel serving there.

Themed “End-of-the-Year Edition”, this edition follows closely with an earlier one on Saturday, July 12, 2025 and the very first instance on Friday, December 6, 2024, holding Bonny and Calabar, consecutively.

Organised under the leadership of Lt Col Oyewumi, the programme was designed to promote youth development, unity, talent discovery, and social support within the barracks community.

Activities at the Get-Together included quizzes, games, health and career talks, comedy, music performances, and a raffle draw.

The event, as was in its maiden and second editions, were open to youths between the ages of 14 and 24 years, with several empowerment items lined up as star prizes.

Star prizes won during the programme included fat tyre bicycles, sewing machines, mobile phones, a generator set, household appliances, food and clothing items, educational materials, and other valuable gifts.

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of gifts to the Commanding Officer by the Barracks’ Youths, widows and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the cantonment in appreciation of his leadership and commitment to their welfare.

In recognition of his dedication to service, representatives of the barrack youths also presented the Commanding Officer with a “Heart of Service” Award.

Widows within the barracks community equally presented a gift to Lt Col Oyewumi, expressing their gratitude for his inclusive leadership and support.

Emotional moments were recorded as winners emerged for the sewing machines, with visible joy from beneficiaries and their families.

A mother and her daughter were seen celebrating after the daughter emerged as one of the winners of a sewing machine. Another beneficiary emerged as the winner of a mobile phone during the raffle draw.

The event also featured the payment of school fees for the Most Supportive Youth in the barracks; Emmanuella Brown Ntun, as well as support for the Most Hardworking Civilian staff; Sunday Ujah reinforcing the Commanding Officer’s focus on education and personal development.

The winner of the star prize received loud cheers from participants, adding excitement to the closing moments of the programme.

Speaking through the theme of the event, the Commanding Officer stressed that success should be measured by impact rather than material achievements.

“Success is not measured by trophies and accolades but by positive impacts we have made in the lives of others,” Lt Col Oyewumi said.

The 146 Battalion Barracks’ Youths Get-Together has continued to grow in impact, with the third edition further strengthening bonds between the military leadership and the barracks community.

Participants described the programme as timely, impactful, and a clear demonstration of people-centred leadership within the Nigerian Army.

The projects commissioned by the Commander 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Paul Alimikhena, are among several others executed by the extant Commanding Officer, Lt Col Oyemade Oyewumi, at 146 Battalion Eburutu Military Cantonment, Calabar, Cross River State. 

These include construction of Major Akeem Mohammed Bus Stop, facelifting of 146 Battalion main gate and main gate guard post, remodelling and furnishing of 146 Battalion main gate quarter guard, purchase and construction of 146 Battalion anchor of excellence, as well as construction of Headquarters 146 Battalion signage.

Others include installation of 215 solar-panel streetlights, construction of 146 Battalion reception, car park, rotunda, photo stand and gate 2 guard post, reconstruction of 146 Battalion Headquarters Road, remodelling and furnishing of 146 Battalion Headquarters and facelifting of gate 2.

The projects also include sinking of six boreholes and construction of overhead tanks in soldiers’ accommodation, renovation and reroofing of Block 24, construction of Major LA Hayat Bus Stop, as well as electrification of mammy market.