The Commandant of the Police Training School, Ilorin, ACP Tunde Salihu Magaji Nda has said that active participation in sports, as well as competitions will henceforth, be institutionalized, and included among activities for the Passing Out Parade of new recruits in the school.
While speaking to pressmen after the closing ceremony of the football tournament introduced to add colour to the forthcoming Passing Out Parade of the Batch B of the 2022/2023 new recruits on Wednesday October 1, 2025, ACP Tunde said that the initiative has broadened their training pattern, both physically and mentally.
According to him, “it’s a legacy that has come to stay. We are going to institutionalize it, this is because it assists to build and sustain their physical and mental alertness which goes a long way to support police work. We will be using it to build fit, able and committed police officers.
”It’s a great moment for my career and life, and all of us involved in this. It was a wonderful experience. When we mooted the idea, which is in line with policy and philosophy of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that we should encourage sports among our officers and men, we decided to do all we could, to put it to the test.
“That was the spirit that inspired us, and for me as a Commandant, it has really brought a wonderful moment, as we have also used the platform to discover sports talents who can make the police proud at any level.
“We are going to encourage the talents discovered going forward. It’s a legacy that will linger for long in the memory of the new recruits, most especially.
The Commandant commended the new recruits for their show of sportsmanship, adding that all of them are winners.
While commending their enthusiasm, he said that the initiative has distinguished PTS among other training schools, as it promotes the spirit of togetherness and unity through sports.
The Sports Officer of the Police Training School, ASP Abidoye Olabode Joseph, who trained the new recruits, and who was also discovered as an athlete at the same training school in 1991 commended the first and second Batches of the recruits, describing their training as commendable.
The Matron of Police Training School, DSP Raphael Veronica charged the new recruits to always use sports to boost their fitness level, as it also encourages healthy living.
The sports event started two weeks ago with inter-squad competition which was won by Squad 6, on Monday September 29, 2025.
Squad 6 defeated Squad 3 to emerge winners of the maiden inter-squad football competition.
The highly explosive encounter, decided at the A’ Division Police Barrack football pitch, saw a good display of soccer artistry from the recruits, who showed both resilience and discipline throughout the competition.
The match ended two goals apiece at the regulation time, and Squad 6 won 6-5 on penalties, to win the competition. Squad 1 had earlier beaten Squad 5, to win the third place match.
And on Wednesday, the female teams of the new recruits took the centre stage in an exhibition match, with Team A beating Team B by 3-2. The day’s event was rounded off with a friendly match between the selected team of the new recruits and Champion Rise Football Academy, which the new recruits won 5-4 on penalties, after grounding out a goalless draw at regulation time.
Among those present to witness the occasion were ACP Mukaila Yusuf, who is the Area Commander, Metro, ACP Oba Sulaiman and ACP Gbadewole Kola, who is the Area Commander, Bode Saadu and the Area Commander of Alapa, ACP Anthony Ojo, all of whom commended the initiative, even as they charged the new recruits to be good ambassadors of the Police.
Others present at the occasion are ACP Iredia Ogiata (Border Patrol), ASP Oladele M. Zubair (PPRO of PTS), ASP Rasheedat Abdulkareem (the OC Sports of the State Command), and ASP Abidoye Joseph (the OC Sports, PTS).
Also present are Barrister Adekunle Iwalaiye, Barrister Yomi Balogun, and Alhaji Dan Maigoro Abubakar, among others.
The sports events was coordinated by Ọba Sulaiman.
The Passing Out Parade activities continues on Sunday, at the premises of the school, and will conclude on Tuesday October 7, at the A’ Division Barrack.
