Air Chief restates commitment to building capacity of NAF personnel
Lawyers
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Nov. 18, 2019 (NAN) The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall, Sadiq Abubakar, has restated his commitment towards building the capacity of NAF personnel to enable them face current and emerging challenges within the domestic and global landscape.
Abubakar made the remarks at the opening of a three- week capacity building course for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) legal officers, at NAF Base Kaduna on Monday.
Abubakar was represented by NAF Air Secretary, AVM Mahmud Ahmed.
He noted that NAF had recorded moderate achievements under the current leadership, saying “we recognize that there is still a lot to be done.
“As I always say, in the race to add value to our society, there is no finishing line.
“We recognize the enormous potentials in our people and the need to activate them by stirring up their latent abilities and birthing possibilities that beckon on us.
“This informed uncompromising and unrelenting commitment towards building their capacity so as to enable you face current and emerging challenges within the domestic and global landscape.
“This administration believes that the future of the NAF, and like the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of our vibrant and extremely gifted young officers.”he said
‘This course is deliberately tailored to give our young lawyers a head start by bringing together some of the brightest minds in various fields of civil and military law as resource persons.”
He noted that “lawyers are particularly strategic to the development of any organization or nation.
“Their contributions are mostly at the level of legal advice on key policy which are the foundation and building blocks for national growth, development and civilization.
“It is the recognition of their importance and the need to equip our lawyers to effectively and efficiently discharge their duties that this capacity building course is organized.”
He said ” I have learnt over time that those who desire to be favourably judged by posterity must strive to be on the right side of history.”
Abubakar implored the course participants to see it as an expression of “our confidence in them and our investment in them and the future of the NAF.
“I urge you to take advantage of the experiences and knowledge of these eminent resource persons by standing on their shoulders.”
Earlier, the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters, AVM Kingsley Lar, said one of the core values of the Nigerian Air Force was “excellence in all we do.”
According to him, this culture of excellence drives us towards self-improvement and the unflinching commitment to take new frontiers.
“As a service, we understand that the world does not stop for anyone to catch up. It therefore behoves on us to keep up with the rest of the world.”
Also, the Director Legal Services NAF, Group Capt. Sanda Jika, said the course would examine other aspects of operational law, human rights, public procurement and international commercial law.
“Let me remind us that the last time a programme of this nature was organized was in 2015.
“It is no coincidence that the 2015 course was organized under the leadership of the CAS, then as Chief of Administration.
“To demonstrate his commitment to the development of NAF legal services, this course is a huge improvement from the previous ones in that it is going to last for three weeks, whereas the previous ones held for only one week.” he said.
The Director thanked the Chief of the Air Staff for the enormous support being enjoyed by personnel under his visionary leadership.(NAN)
TJ/KOO/MZA
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Maharazu Ahmed