NAF, Army Decorate Newly Promoted Senior Officers

NAF, Army Decorate Newly Promoted Senior Officers

NAF DECORATES NEWLY PROMOTED SENIOR OFFICERS
Following the recent approval by the Air Force Council of the promotion of some senior Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers to the next higher ranks, the NAF decorated 14 Air Commodores and 36 Group Captains with their new ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore, respectively, at the Headquarters NAF Abuja. Additionally, for the first time in the history of the NAF, 4 Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCOs), who were granted concessional commission, were decorated with the rank of Flight Lieutenant for their exceptional performance and contributions to the NAF over the years. Notable among the 4 newly commissioned officers is Flight Lieutenant Aniemeka Enem, who had earlier been promoted to the rank of Air Warrant Officer in 2017 for his various contributions to Research and Development in the NAF as well as for emerging as the overall best graduating doctorate student at the Babcock University, Ogun State.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who, alongside other dignitaries and the spouses of the beneficiaries, decorated the officers, noted that the promotion of the senior officers and concessional commissioning of the 4 SNCOs were premised on their past performances and the resolve of the Service to constantly reward excellence. Speaking particularly on the concessional commissioning, the CAS stated that the beneficiaries, who had each put in not less than 33 years of outstanding meritorious service to the nation, had been found to possess exemplary leadership qualities. He noted that their commissioning was a reward for hard work and would also serve as motivation for other airmen/airwomen to aspire for such rare elevation. In order to ensure the newly commissioned officers quickly come to terms with their new status, the CAS gave directives that they be immediately moved from SNCOs’ quarters into officers’ quarters at their various units.

Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted that the increasingly complex and challenging security environment required the Service to put forward its very best at all times. He therefore noted that promotion could no longer be business as usual. According to him, “while time on rank would, understandably, continue to be central, factors such as merit, productivity, establishment vacancy, deployability and, to some extent, geographical spread have combined to raise the bar and make the race even more competitive”. He explained further that, in the discharge of military responsibilities, the demands on members of the Armed Forces are unique, requiring, in some instances, paying the supreme price. Thus, he said, “it is very important that the Services are led by persons of exceptional leadership qualities so as to eliminate or minimize costly mistakes in the fog of war, which is even higher in the case of the Air Force given the complex nature of air operations”.

The CAS specially applauded the spouses and family members of the celebrants while imploring them to sustain the support to enable them excel in their new, higher responsibilities. He ended his remarks by tasking the newly promoted officers to brace up for the challenges ahead especially in the collective resolve to regenerate the NAF and secure Nigeria and Nigerians. He urged them to continue to apply their skills, experience, commitment and time when and wherever it is demanded. He also reminded them that the taxpayers, who would bear the additional cost of the elevation, expect more from them. He stressed that they would therefore need to critically interrogate every process, procedure and strategy being used today to ensure Nigeria’s sovereignty is not undermined.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief of Administration (COA), Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, noted that the occasion was another milestone in the career development of some of the officers who were able to scale through the painstaking screening process and the approval by the Air Force Council. According to him, the selection process culminating in promotion is usually an exhaustive one which involves applying stringent criteria for elevation, especially to the prestigious air rank. He explained further that several qualities and conditions are used to determine an officer’s eligibility for promotion; the most critical of these being merit. He however pointed out that it does not mean that the officers who were not promoted are not fit but for the constraint of establishment vacancies. The COA noted that elevation comes with higher responsibilities and therefore enjoined the newly decorated officers to be more diligent, committed and accountable in the discharge of their duties as well as in their interactions with their professional colleagues and civilians.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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WORK HARDER TO JUSTIFY ELEVATION – Major General Akinroluyo
Tuesday 11th December 2018 will forever remain in the anal of history for fourteen 14 distinguished senior officers of Operation LAFIYA DOLE who benefited from the recent promotion exercise approved by the Army Council. It was a colourful event at the Maimalari Cantonment Officers’ Mess, Maiduguri where officers from the 3 sectors combating insurgency were decorated with their new badges of Brigadier General.

The massive elevation for the officers in the theatre was in recognition and reward for dedicated service and resilience in the fight against insurgency in the North Eastern region of Nigeria.

The Theatre Commander (TC) Operation LAFIYA DOLE Major General Benson Akinroluyo who decorated most of the senior officers charged the newly promoted Generals to increase their dexterity in the fight against insurgency, stating that the best way to reciprocate the recognition and trust bestowed on them is to work harder for the collective goal of the operation.

Earlier while in his words of wisdom to the newly decorated Senior officers to usher them to the Generalship cadre, the acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Brigadier General Bulama Biu advised the celebrants to put on their thinking cap for strategic command, responsibilities and prompt critical decision making as the margins for error is almost zero.

The Commander 7 Division Supply and Transport, Brigadier General Chima Okafor who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the decorated one star Generals thanked God Almighty for making the day possible as well applauded the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai for finding them worthy of such prestigious elevation at this critical time in the fight against insurgency. He promised their unalloyed loyalty, commitment to do more as expected in all assigned task that will be designated to them.

Amongst those decorated were Brigadier Generals Chima Solomon Okafor, Adekunle Adekeye, Ademola Taiwo Adedoja, Alechenu Mike Alechenu, Ibrahim Garba Lassa, Solomon Abidemi Alamu and Sani Abdullahi Gumel. Others includes Brigadier Generals Valentine Uzochukwu Okoro, Olatokumbo Musiliu Bello, Abdulsalam Enesi Abubakar, Hamidu Ohimege Abubakar, Abubakar Hadejia Ahmed, Omotoso Jacob Ariyo and Brigadier General Ado Apollos Galadima.

Dignitaries who witnessed the occasion were the Commander Sector 2 and 3 of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Maritime Component Commander, Chief of Staff Theatre Command, Heads of paramilitary security agencies in Borno state. Others were members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), unit commanders and principal staff officers at Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE and Headquarters 7 Division Nigerian Army amongst others.

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Thank you for your kind cooperation.

ADO ISA
Colonel
Deputy Director Public Relations 7 Division Nigerian Army
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General Kabuk Decorates Officers in 82 Division
The General Officer Commanding (GOC)82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Emmanuel Kabuk has decorated eight senior officers that benefitted from the recent 2018 promotion exercise.

In his remarks at the occasion, Major General kabuk charged them to be professional, decisive and responsive in the conduct of their Constitutional responsibilities in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS)vision for the Nigerian Army.

The event attracted many senior military officers, invited guests and relations of the beneficiaries took place at the 82 Division Officers’ Mess on the 11th of December,2018.

In his remarks at the event, the GOC congratulated the promoted Officers and charged them to work very hard to justify the confidence put on them even as he described promotion to be an act of God.

According to him -“Promotion comes from God and only Him alone can promote anyone. You must therefore thank COAS for finding you worthy to be so elavated. You must continue to work harder in line with the COAS vision to justify the promotion.”

He thanked the COAS for finding Officers of the Division worthy for the promotion and assured him of the Division’s determination in executing its constitutional roles in line with his vision for the NA.

Seven Senior Officers were decorated including two Colonels to Brigadier General, three Lieutenant Colonels to Colonels. Others were three Captains that were promoted to the rank of Major.

Among the newly promoted Officers included Colonels Yahaya Abdulhamid and Enoch Albara decorated to the rank of a Brigadier General.

The Commander 14 Brigade, Commander 82 Division Garrison Chief of Staff, Deputy Directors and Principal Staff Officers of the Division as well as family members and friends of the newly promoted officers graced the occasion.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Deputy Director Public Relations