Kwara Seeks NAF’s Intervention on Ilorin Aviation College

Kwara Seeks NAF’s Intervention on Ilorin Aviation College

The Kwara State Government has expressed its desire to partner with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to boost the capacity of the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin with a view to positioning the institution to better support the aviation industry in Nigeria. This was made known yesterday, 30 June 2020, when the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, paid a visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at Headquarters (HQ) NAF. Governor Abdulrazaq stated that the IAC would want to leverage the NAF’s expertise and experience to improve its services, especially in the training of pilots as well as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators and maintenance crew. He also suggested that the NAF could consider operating its C-130H aircraft from the 303 Medium Airlift Group (303 MAG) Ilorin since its has a hangar at the location, observing that this would further boost aviation-related activities in the State.

Speaking further, the Kwara State Governor, while commending the NAF for its immense contributions to the war against terrorism and armed banditry in the North East and North West of the Country, stated that the NAF’s air strikes had significantly curtailed the nefarious activities of the criminal elements. He expressed optimism that, with the renewed tempo of operations, the enemies of the Nation would soon be roundly defeated.

In his response, the CAS expressed the NAF’s willingness to partner with the Kwara State Government to boost the activities of the IAC. He noted that, while more work needed to be done to make the 303 MAG Hangar ready for use by NAF C-130H, arrangements could be made to emplace essential support equipment that would make occasional use of the facility possible. Air Marshal Abubakar however remarked that it would be best to set up a technical committee, comprising members from the NAF and the Kwara State Government/IAC, to work out modalities for actualizing the partnership.

Before departing HQ NAF, the Governor was conducted on a tour of the NAF Aircrew Memorial Arcade, where he laid a wreath and prayed for the repose of the souls of NAF aircrew who had paid the supreme price in service to the Nation.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force

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HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: NAF COMMISSIONS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED DIALYSIS CENTRE AT NAF HOSPITAL IN ABUJA

In furtherance of its commitment towards the provision of qualitative healthcare services for its personnel and their families, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned a newly constructed and well-equipped Dialysis Centre at the 063 NAF Hospital, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja. The Centre, which has a large Treatment Room with 3 Dialysis Machines and other support equipment as well as a comfortable Reception Area, 2 Consulting Rooms and a Nursing Station, was commissioned today, 1 July 2020, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.

While conducting the Representative of the CAS on a tour of facilities in the Dialysis Centre, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, stated that the Centre, which also has its own integrated water supply/treatment as well as alternative power supply systems, was established because of the global increase in cases of hypertension and diabetes, which often lead to kidney diseases. He noted that the establishment of the Centre in the Hospital would make it much easier for NAF personnel and their families as well as civilians from the surrounding communities to be managed for kidney diseases. He stated further that the Centre would complement the newly-designated COVID-19 Management Centre because, according to him, “the kidney is one of the organs that the Novel Coronavirus attacks. Hence, the proximity of this Centre to the new COVID-19 Management Centre will further enhance the treatment of patients with the disease”. The Commander also remarked that the Hospital has a well-trained team of medical consultants, nurses and support staff that will effectively man the Centre for optimal performance. “We can easily take care of a minimum of 3 patients everyday; 7 days a week”, he added.

It will be recalled that the NAF recently converted the Accident and Emergency Unit at the 063 NAF Hospital to a 25-bed COVID-19 Management Centre as part of facilities designated in the Armed Forces of Nigeria COVID-19 Response Team’s contribution to the National Response.

Others present at the commissioning ceremony were the NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Commodore Gideon Bako, as well as Directors from Headquarters NAF and other senior NAF officers.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
1 July 2020
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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: NAF STRENGTHENS R&D EFFORTS, SIGNS NEW MOUs WITH KEY MDAs

In furtherance of its efforts to advance Research and Development (R&D) for enhanced operational effectiveness, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 1 July 2020, signed additional Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 3 Organizations, namely; the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Digital Bridge Institute (DBI). The erstwhile MoUs with the aforementioned organisations, which recently expired, were renewed by the NAF in line with its focus on strategic partnerships with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for enhanced R&D. The signing of the MoUs, which took place at Headquarters NAF, Abuja, had in attendance, Representatives of the 3 organizations, including: the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AIB, Engineer Akin Olateru; the Vice Chancellor, UNIBEN, Professor Lillian Salami; and the President/CEO DBI, Engineer Professor Mohammed Ajiya. With today’s signing, the NAF now has 32 active MoUs with key MDAs in Nigeria.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao, stated that the NAF as a highly technical Service relies on technology as the bedrock for success in its operations. He noted that, in line with the focus of the Federal Government in promoting indigenous technology, the NAF has, more than ever before, been looking inwards to gradually wean itself from over-dependence on foreign technology. He disclosed that this strategic policy posture had resulted in greater innovation and resourcefulness within the Service.

Air Marshal Abubakar stated further that collaboration with local organizations, by way of MoUs, remained critical, as it continues to serve as a pedestal to leapfrog existing capabilities as well as a repertoire of capacity that could be harnessed at short notice. He added that the MoUs would provide a platform to cross-fertilize ideas for greater innovation, ultimately leading to the achievement of meaningful solutions to the technological challenges of the Service and indeed the Nation, in a cost-effective manner. The collaborative efforts of the NAF, he said, had produced auto-pilot cassettes for the Mi-35 Helicopter, emergency ventilator systems for COVID-19 patients as well aa hydraulic diaphragms for the Mi-35 helicopter and L-39ZA trainer aircraft. Other results of collaborative efforts of the NAF highlighted include the production of Alpha Jet anti-skid break system test bench and batteries for the Mi series helicopters. He disclosed that the specific areas of the NAF’s collaboration with the AIB, UNIBEN and DBI include aircraft accident investigation, aerospace technology, energy, software development and robotics.

Speaking on behalf of the MoU Partners, the UNIBEN Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, said they were delighted to formally renew the R&D collaboration with the NAF. She noted that the years of close interaction with the Service had shown that the NAF places high premium on professionalism through the acquisition of the appropriate education and skills. She observed that this was critical to ensuring technological advancement in any field of endeavour. Professor Salami pledged that the MoU partners, who she said, were already part of the NAF Family, would work with renewed commitment to understand the new areas of technological challenges with a view to developing shared, cost-effective solutions.

While delivering his welcome remarks, the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, AVM Remigius Ekeh, disclosed that the NAF had made giant strides in the area of R&D, especially in the last 5 years of the current NAF leadership. According to him, the CAS has inspired a lot of solutions to operational challenges in the NAF by investing in high quality training of personnel, approving innovative approaches to issues and encouraging out-of-the-box thinking, thereby achieving credible results whilst saving scarce budgetary resources.

High points of the occasion were the signing and presentation of the respective MoU documents.
Also present during the event were Branch Chiefs and Directors from NAF Headquarters as well as other senior military officers and officials from the 3 MoU partners.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
1 July 2020
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HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: NAF COMMISSIONS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED DIALYSIS CENTRE AT NAF HOSPITAL IN ABUJA

In furtherance of its commitment towards the provision of qualitative healthcare services for its personnel and their families, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned a newly constructed and well-equipped Dialysis Centre at the 063 NAF Hospital, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja. The Centre, which has a large Treatment Room with 3 Dialysis Machines and other support equipment as well as a comfortable Reception Area, 2 Consulting Rooms and a Nursing Station, was commissioned today, 1 July 2020, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.

While conducting the Representative of the CAS on a tour of facilities in the Dialysis Centre, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, stated that the Centre, which also has its own integrated water supply/treatment as well as alternative power supply systems, was established because of the global increase in cases of hypertension and diabetes, which often lead to kidney diseases. He noted that the establishment of the Centre in the Hospital would make it much easier for NAF personnel and their families as well as civilians from the surrounding communities to be managed for kidney diseases. He stated further that the Centre would complement the newly-designated COVID-19 Management Centre because, according to him, “the kidney is one of the organs that the Novel Coronavirus attacks. Hence, the proximity of this Centre to the new COVID-19 Management Centre will further enhance the treatment of patients with the disease”. The Commander also remarked that the Hospital has a well-trained team of medical consultants, nurses and support staff that will effectively man the Centre for optimal performance. “We can easily take care of a minimum of 3 patients everyday; 7 days a week”, he added.

It will be recalled that the NAF recently converted the Accident and Emergency Unit at the 063 NAF Hospital to a 25-bed COVID-19 Management Centre as part of facilities designated in the Armed Forces of Nigeria COVID-19 Response Team’s contribution to the National Response.

Others present at the commissioning ceremony were the NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Commodore Gideon Bako, as well as Directors from Headquarters NAF and other senior NAF officers.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
1 July 2020
……………….
HEALTHCARE DELIVERY: NAF COMMISSIONS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED DIALYSIS CENTRE AT NAF HOSPITAL IN ABUJA

In furtherance of its commitment towards the provision of qualitative healthcare services for its personnel and their families, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned a newly constructed and well-equipped Dialysis Centre at the 063 NAF Hospital, Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja. The Centre, which has a large Treatment Room with 3 Dialysis Machines and other support equipment as well as a comfortable Reception Area, 2 Consulting Rooms and a Nursing Station, was commissioned today, 1 July 2020, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the NAF Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao.

While conducting the Representative of the CAS on a tour of facilities in the Dialysis Centre, the Commander 063 NAF Hospital, Group Captain Muzzammil Muhammed, stated that the Centre, which also has its own integrated water supply/treatment as well as alternative power supply systems, was established because of the global increase in cases of hypertension and diabetes, which often lead to kidney diseases. He noted that the establishment of the Centre in the Hospital would make it much easier for NAF personnel and their families as well as civilians from the surrounding communities to be managed for kidney diseases. He stated further that the Centre would complement the newly-designated COVID-19 Management Centre because, according to him, “the kidney is one of the organs that the Novel Coronavirus attacks. Hence, the proximity of this Centre to the new COVID-19 Management Centre will further enhance the treatment of patients with the disease”. The Commander also remarked that the Hospital has a well-trained team of medical consultants, nurses and support staff that will effectively man the Centre for optimal performance. “We can easily take care of a minimum of 3 patients everyday; 7 days a week”, he added.

It will be recalled that the NAF recently converted the Accident and Emergency Unit at the 063 NAF Hospital to a 25-bed COVID-19 Management Centre as part of facilities designated in the Armed Forces of Nigeria COVID-19 Response Team’s contribution to the National Response.

Others present at the commissioning ceremony were the NAF Chief of Medical Services, Air Commodore Gideon Bako, as well as Directors from Headquarters NAF and other senior NAF officers.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
1 July 2020