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NICO LIFE ARMS DEFENCE FORCE
05/06/09
 NICO Life Insurance has raised its sponsorship for the Malawi Defence Force's (MDF) annual Inter-Unit Sports Festival from K2 million to K3 million this year. NICO Life Chief Executive Officer Chris Kapanga announced the news at the cheque presentation ceremony in Blantyre on June 4. The development reaffirms the company's commitment towards supporting the festival. Last year it also increased the funding from K1 million to K2 million. "We know the whole world is faced by the financial crisis. NICO has not been spared at all by this problem. However, we thought that should not bar us from raising our sponsorship." "The Malawi Defence Force is doing a good job in ensuring peace in the country. That's why we decided to be funding the festival. The festivals really help the soldiers to become fit," he said.
NICO started sponsoring the event in 2006 and Kapanga pledged continued support. "As long as NICO exists on this planet, we will continue to support the MDF. I hope Malawians will continue supporting us so that in turn we raise the social status of this country," he said.
MDF Director of Training Major General David Sefu applauded NICO for the sponsorship. "We are appreciative to NICO for raising the funding in the face of the financial crisis. Without them we couldn't have managed to hold a successful sports festival," he said. Sefu said the MDF sports events have unearthed high profile athletes. "We have seen MDF players featuring in the national football team. Other athletes have represented this country at international competitions. Some of these athletes were identified through such events," he said. The Inter-Unit Sports Festival is competed for by athletes from the MDF's 12 units such as Moyale Barracks, Cobbe Barracks and Kamuzu Barracks. This year the events would be held at Mafco in Salima district from 21 to 26 June. Among the competitions lined up are football, weightlifting and netball. The unit that would emerge an overall winner would receive a grand prize of K400,000.
Below are some highlights in pictures of the event
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