Headquarters 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army Cantonment wore a new look with the commissioning and unveiling of the Brigade Hippopotamus Mascot by the General officer Commanding 81 Division Major General Obinna Ajunwa who graced the occasion as the Special Guest of Honour.
Major General Ajunwa stated that Mascots are objects, animals or persons chosen as symbols of the regiment, unit or formation whose behaviour attracts good luck to such unit or formation. He disclosed that before now palm trees was the mascot of the division as well as the 9 Brigade. However, in 2014 Hippopotamus popularly called Hippo was introduced and adopted by the Division and subsequently replicated by the Brigade.
According to the General Officer Commanding, the hippopotamus though an amphibious animal adapts reasonably well on land and water. He noted that the animal is a perfect submarine with a mixed capacity to manoeuvre on both land and water. He said the making if this massive mascot was to improve the infrastructural development encapsulated in COAS Command Philosophy and upon which his vision is rightly hinged
Earlier, in his welcome remarks the Commander 9 Brigade Brigadier General IE Akpaumontia in his welcome address said that the adoption of Hippopotamus as the mascot of 81 Division symbolises the strength and resilience of the Hippopotamus in the jungle. He further reiterated that the huge security role being shouldered by this formation has equally been depicted by the giant size of the hippopotamus which signifies strength and resilience. The barrack youths entertained the Special Guest of Honour and other invited guests during the occasion.
Amongst those in attendance were Commander 81 Division MIB Brigadier General KN Nwoko, Commander 81 Division Provost Group Brigadier General ML Abubakar, Director NA Achieve Brigadier General A Mohammed, Commander NNS Beecroft ably represented by Navy Captain AA Ibrahim, Commissioner of Police represented by Asst. Commissioner of Police OO Odubona NAOWA Coordinator lkeja Mrs Amaka Akpaumontia and her members among others.
