BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has described sports a vital tool for promoting the physical fitness, mental alertness and overall productivity of staff across Nigeria’s airports.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of FAAN’s annual sports competition held at the FAAN Secondary School, Lagos, Mrs. Kuku said the initiative continues to play a key role in boosting staff morale and well-being.
Represented by the Director of Airport Operations, Captain Abdullahi Mahmood, the FAAN MD/CEO described the event as more than a contest, but a unifying platform for teamwork, discipline, and collaboration among employees, essential ingredients for the smooth running of airport operations.
“Sports help in building resilience, promoting physical fitness, and enhancing mental alertness,” she stated, urging participants to uphold fair play and camaraderie throughout the tournament.
Captain Mahmood, accompanied by top management staff including the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Lukman Eniola, performed the ceremonial kickoff to flag off the games.
He reiterated management’s support for initiatives that foster a healthy work-life balance and promote cooperation across departments.
The event opened with a lively novelty football match between management staff teams — Team Blue and Team Yellow — comprising both male and female employees from different directorates.
According to the organisers, the match was designed to strengthen team spirit, enhance interdepartmental relationships, and build a stronger sense of community within the Authority.
Other activities on the opening day included inter-directorate cycling contests, which saw enthusiastic participation from both male and female cyclists across FAAN’s departments.
In the first competitive football fixture of the day, the Directorate of Aviation Security Services (DASS), last year’s champions, locked horns with the Directorate of Engineering Services (DES).
After a tense and tactical encounter, DES claimed a hard-fought 1–0 victory, ending DASS’s title defence.
Reacting to the day’s events, Dr. Eniola praised the energy and sportsmanship displayed by participants, describing the atmosphere as “a good start.”
“The objective of bringing staff together in a spirit of friendship and competition has been achieved,” he said. “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.”
Last year’s tournament ended dramatically when DASS defeated the Managing Director/Directorate of Legal Services (MD/DLS) 5–4 on penalties after a thrilling 2–2 draw.
The Directorate of Airport Operations (DAO) finished third after edging DES 6–5 on penalties.
This year’s edition, FAAN said, promises even more excitement as staff from various directorates vie for honours, unity, and wellness, highlighting the Authority’s belief that a healthy workforce is the foundation of operational excellence.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
