The newly appointed Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet has seek support and cooperation from professional Journalists who have the responsibility of keeping Nigerians informed and educated on Defence and security matters.
Gabkwet who took over from Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola resumed his new position as the 17th NAF Spokesman today in Abuja said in a statement that he strongly believe that joint efforts can positively shape public perception while also building narratives that would engender national cohesion and advance national development".
Also in his word, the new Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet wants Defence Correspondents and Media to show him same support and cooperation accorded to is predecessor AVM Daramola.
"Be rest assured that I am not oblivious of the enormous responsibility my new role bestows on me, coming at a time when, despite recent successes, our nation grapples with myriads of contemporary security challenges" he said.
"Though I am a trained public relations officer, I will still need to leverage on your collective knowledge and experience to help convey NAF’s stories in the best way possible while appealing to you to continue adhering to the key tenets of the journalism profession especially truth and accuracy as well as fairness and impartiality among others. Accordingly, I look forward to fruitful and rewarding working relationships with you all, both individually and collectively" he added.
In another statement signed by Wing Commander Bassey Okon, reveals that the new DOPRI Air Commodore Gabkwet was born in Kaduna. He hails from Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State and attended St Joseph’s College, Vom, Plateau State.
He later proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 42nd Regular Course.
“Gabkwet was commissioned into the NAF as a Pilot Officer on 16 August 1996. He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos State, where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations in 2008. The senior officer has attended several courses some of which include, International Military Public Relations Course in Sweden, Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji as well as Strategic Public Relations and Crisis Management Courses at Pinnacle PR, London. Additionally, he attended a Speech Writing Course organized by Ragan Communications at American University, Washington DC. Air Commodore Gabkwet is also an alumnus of the National Defence University, Champing, China, Air Force War College, Nigeria and the National Defence College, Nigeria,” the further revealed.
The statement further revealed that he had held several appointments in the course of his military career.
He was the Group Public Relations Officer at Air Weapon School (Now 407Air Combat Training Group), Kainji and at various times served as the Command Public Relations Officer at Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Training Command, (Now Air Training Command), Kaduna as well as Logistics Command, Lagos.
The new Spokesperson was also a United Nations Military Observer at the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2004 and 2005 where he also acted as the Assistant Military Spokesman.
He served as the first Press Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff between 2010 – 2012.
Other appointments held by the senior officer include the Deputy Defence Attach̩ (Air), Embassy of Nigeria, Beijing China between 2013 Р2016 and Command Training Officer at the Ground Training Command Enugu in 2018.
Until his appointment, he was a member of Directing Staff and Director of Coordination at the Air Force War College, Makurdi.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
The senior officer is decorated with the Distinguished Service Star, Fellow Defence College, Fellow National Defence University, Fellow Air War College (+) and the United Nations Medal among others.
He is married to Mrs Patricia Jemcit Gabkwet and the union is blessed with 3 children.