By Olayemi Esan
In furtherance of its capacity building efforts to tackle various security challenges and insurgency in the Country, especially in the North East and North West zones, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated another set of 5 pilots in basic flying.
The winging and decoration ceremony, which took place today, 25th March 2022, at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja comprised 5 pilots of the Basic Flying having completed 401 flying Training School ground, academic instrument flying phase which lasted for 8 months and 4 weeks respectively had the five officers passed out with satisfactory average passed mark of 75 percent grades.
In his remarks at the winging ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao noted that the winging of these flying pilots highlights yet another effort toward actualising his vision to enhance and sustain critical airpower capability require for joint Force employment in pursuit with our national security imperatives.
"Indeed, this is the second key driver of my vision which is to pursue purposeful training and human capacity development. 99 officers and 24 airmen and airwomen are undergoing various training across various specialities in various countries including the USA, UK, South Africa, India, France Egypt and Pakistan among others.
"In addition 2,656 Nigerian Air Force personnel across all specialities are being trained to deliver airpower in light of NAF involvement in Theatres of operations across the country.
"Undoubtedly, Nigerian Air Force is poised to maintain combat readiness at significantly higher level to counter both domestic and foreign threats to Nigeria security and wellbeing", he said.
The Air Chief also emphasied that the Nigerian Air Force will train and retrain its personnel for improve operational.
He congratulate and urge the newly winged pilots not to relentless in pursue of excellence and professionalism operators and flying pilot while with your colleagues across the specialities in the Nigerian Air Force as well as sister services and other security agencies in various theatres of operations for more enduring result.
Air Marshal Amao also graduated the newly promoted Air warrant officers for a well deserving promotion which came after a careful selection and scrutiny, charge them to see their promotion as the confidence in Nigerian Air Force has in them. He urged them to the guided as a role model of the other ranks cadal which will demand a very high responsibility from them. He tasked them to keep abreast with some contemporary security issues as they promote Regimentation and vuidl morale of the airmen and airwomen place in their charge.
Presenting the newly winged pilots, the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Marshal JA Yusuf says, the five young officers have gone through the rigours of flying trainings and their winning will boast the NAF support to the Deep Blue Project.
He noted that, the Training places the apart with the international standard for qualification as Flying pilots as well as enhanced the NAF operational manpower disposition especially as the NAF is inducting and inspecting more platforms and support other security agencies to combat the insecurity across the country.
One of Newly Winged Pilots Flying Lt JA Akerele from Imo State thanked President Buhari, chief of Air Staff for the confidence reposed on the newly winged Pilots and the newly decorated Air warrant officers and the opportunity to make progress in their carers and in the Nigerian Air Force.
He thanked the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Oladayo Amao for his vision, leadership resources and opportunity afforded the newly winged and decorated AWO, and all Nigerian Air Force personnel to pursue professional excellence and capacity building without which today's winging and decoration would not be possible.
"We jointly reinstate our loyalty, allegiance to ensure the preservation of our national territorial integrityinnline with the Constitutional roles of the Nigerian Air Force.
Those winged today were; Flight Lt JA Akerele, Flight Lt MA Obi, Flying Officer TM Tsokwa, Flying Officer E K Meswok, and Flying Officer MT Oyeladun.
The newly promoted from Master Warrant Officer to Air Warrant Officer were; Air Warrant Officers Olasupo Ayo David, Air Warrant Officer Muodebelu, Air Warrant Officer Abdullahi Akhigbe, Air Warrant Officer Essien Bassey Cobham, Air Warrant Officer Samanja P H, Air Warrant Officer Garuba, Sani Duste, and the only female among them is Air Warrant Officer Omotosho Mojisola.
Speaking with SpyeTV, Air Warrant Officer Omotosho Mojisola narrated how she waited 25 years before being promoted to Air Warant Officer and this is a big deal for her in Nigerian Air Force journey.
Details of our interview with her on our YouTube Channel this evening.