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FCTA grants scholarship to girl hit by Air Force Jet

FCTA grants scholarship to girl hit by Air Force Jet
By Kabir Muhammad
Scholarship
Abuja, Oct. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to provide scholarship to Miss Elizabeth Elijah who was hit by flying debris from the crashed fighter jet during air training for Nigeria Independence Day celebration.
The Director, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), Dr Adamu Noma, disclosed this when he visited the girl at Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, with some directors who represented the administration on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the FCT Administration has decided to take care of all expenses for her education, explaining that the scholarship will take care of all her schooling.
“As soon as she is discharged from hospital, the scholarship will commence,” Noma assured.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Elijah was said to be in the farm at Mpape near Maitama District, that fateful day when the ill-fated NAF aircraft mishap happened and she was hit by flying debris from the fighter jet.
The ill-fated fighter jet collided with another killing the pilot during air training for Nigeria Independence Day celebration where Elijah was hit and injured at the leg by fragments of the jet.
Noma also assured that the FCTA has granted her scholarship to university level and that they will be ready to foot her bills for as long as she can go in educational pursuit.
He said the FCT Administration would be responsible for her tuition, books, uniform, foot wears and any other requirement needed in school.
Alhaji Ahmad Rani, Director FCT Scholarship Board, confirmed the scholarship, adding that the board is ready to foot the bills and follow her up.
The girl, who is responding to treatment, has been stabilised from the trauma and the injury, and will be discharged soon.
NAN also learnt that Elijah, 15, hails from Kachia, Kaduna State, but reside with her family at Chikoko village in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
She completed primary six in Chikoko, but poverty prevented from proceeding for secondary education.
NAN also gathered that her father could not afford transport fare from the village to see her at the Maitama Hospital.
Among those who visited Elijah at the hospital where the scholarship form was presented to the family for proper documentation include the Director, FCT Scholarship Board, and Director of FCT Call Centre, Hajia Jummai Amadu. (NAN)
KM/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obasa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nigeria Air Force commend NYSC on resumption of camp activities in North East

Nigerian Air Force commend NYSC on resumption of camp activities in North East

NAN-HG-10

Camp

By Yashim Katurak

Abuja, May 11, 2017 (NAN) Air Commodore Abubakar Yusuf, Commander, 053 Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force Camp, Abuja, has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on resumption of camp activities in insurgency affected states in the North East.

Yusuf gave the commendation on Thursday when he visited the NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, at the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja.

He also commended Kazaure on the way and manner in which he ran the scheme, adding that this has brought better value to the lives of corps members and improve the developmental strides of the scheme.

Yusuf however urged all directors and top officials of the scheme to key into the vision of the director-general.

“We are here to congratulate you on the way and manner you run the NYSC especially your tremendous effort in restoring youth service activities in the North East.

“We, who are in the military, know it is not easy; it takes a lot of courage for one to be able to achieve that.

“On behalf of the Nigerian Air force I also appreciate you for sending your corps members to come and serve in the Air Force. This has added value to the force in different ways.

“Prominent among the areas these corps members have added value and contributed in making the service forge ahead is the area of medicals, administration and computer services, among others.

“I want to extend the good will of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; he most certainly appreciate the good work you are doing in running the affairs of the NYSC,” Yusuf said.

Responding, Kazaure said camp activities had fully resumed in all states of the federation except Borno.

He said that for now, corps members posted to the state would hold their orientation exercise in Katsina state.

Kazaure assured that the scheme has concluded plans to hold the 2017 Batch ‘A’ set of prospective corps members for the orientation course billed for May 23.

He also assured the Nigerian Air Force of the NYSC’s continued support for its activities through the posting of corps members.

He said that the scheme was spread across the 744 local government areas of the country, adding that it will continue to use this reach to support the efforts of the Federal Government towards the growth and development of the nation.

“You are aware that orientation is one of our cardinal programmes in the scheme and 2017 Batch ‘A’ orientation is billed for May 23.

“By May 22, all camp officials would have reported to the various camps ready to commence the orientation programme.

“Camp activities will hold in all states of the federation except Borno state. Corps members posted to Borno will hold their orientation exercise in Katsina for now,” Kazaure said. (NAN)

KRY/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Air Force, AIB collaborate to enhance aviation safety

Air Force, AIB collaborate to enhance aviation safety

NAN-H-46

Safety

By Adekunle Williams

Lagos, March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Air Force and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have agreed to explore areas of cooperation to enhance aviation safety in the country.

Mr Tunji Oketunbi, the Head, Public Affairs of AIB, said this in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.

He said this was a fall out of a meeting between heads of the two bodies when the new bureau’s Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

Olateru, in the statement, canvassed for more cooperation in human capital development and emergency response.

“There are a lot you can do for us in training. We know you don’t joke with training in Nigerian Air Force.

“We need to have cooperation with you in developing human capital. We also need a documented emergency response plan in which you can play a very critical role,” he said.

Olateru commended the Nigerian Air Force for its formidable role in aviation and in the defence of the nation.

The AIB boss stressed the importance of a stronger relationship between the two bodies, noting that the force is strategically placed to help during emergencies with its facilities spread across the country.

Responding, the Chief of Air Staff said by working together, the force will help AIB in fulfilling its mandate of accident investigation and prevention.

Abubakar said the air force would be willing to extend its human and material resources to the bureau.

He also urged AIB management to identify its needed areas of assistance.

“Accident is what nobody wants but in aviation it happens sometimes despite every effort made to prevent it. We need to deal with issues before accident happens,” he said.

Abubakar said the force had upgraded its medical and training facilities spread across the country to boost its capacity to respond promptly and effectively to emergencies.

“Training of Air Force officers have been upgraded, especially for the pilots and engineers who are given decent accommodation to ensure they were focused on safety.

“We are providing decent accommodation for the officers flying and maintaining our aircraft. We train, provide facilities, seminars and make sure our hospitals are okay, we do medical evaluations.

“We have evaluations once quarterly for our pilots where they take written tests to make sure they are up to task. Same thing for our engineers,” he said.

The Chief of Air Staff said he invited AIB to be part of safety evaluation so as to have independent assessment from an outsider.

“We need to have simulations of accidents to see the gaps and see what to be done. You may have excellent plan but when it comes to execution, it is a different thing,” he said.

The two government bodies agreed to set up a joint-committee to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olateru has been galvanising all relevant sectors to reposition AIB towards the fulfillment of its mandate of improving safety through investigation of serious incidents and accidents. (NAN)

WAC/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola