The Commander of the 153 Base Service of the Nigerian Air Force, Yola, Air Commodore Alheri Longi Dakwat, and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to the President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) on Thursday, September 22, 2022.
The Air Chief was escorted by his Squadron Leader, A.M. Hassan; Flight Lieutenant, I. Sini; Flight Lieutenant, N.G. Enoch, and Flying Officer, A. Abdullazeez, and they were ushered into the President's office by AUN's Vice President of Safety and Security, Dr. Lionel Rawlins Von-Fredrick and his Chief Security, Mrs. Babalola Olayide Ezekiel.
Interim President Professor Attahir Yusuf welcomed the guests and thanked them for creating time out of their busy schedules to identify with and visit.
Professor Attahir appreciated the officers and men of Nigeria's Armed Forces for their effort and sacrifices in keeping the country safe from insurgents and criminal elements. He also commended them for their academic and intellectual accomplishments. "There are a few things you must note with pride about Nigerian Military personnel. Most are highly educated with higher degrees in International Peace Studies, Strategic Management, Engineering, and many other fields". He added that having a knowledge-driven Military is key to a nation's survival.
The President noted that many technological innovations currently dominating the market, especially in telecommunication, solar energy, software engineering, and construction, originated from the Military. "In executing their duties, they do not have time. So they have to find solutions very, very quickly. And when they do that, the civil society will rush to translate them into business for mass use".
Explaining the AUN international model to the Commandant, Professor Attahir explained that knowledge is an international commodity.
"If your scope is narrow, your knowledge will be limited. Here in this room, we are from different parts of the world: Europe, Africa, America, and other places. Our faculty, staff, and students reflect that. Our policies and methods are of international standards.
"We also strive to collaborate with agencies, institutions such as yours in research and in training, in exchange of ideas and supporting each other. We run a lot of courses for professionals and for the Community. So, we invite your people to take advantage of our courses".
Earlier, the Commandant, Commodore Dakwat, stated that his visit was to explore the opportunity to partner and collaborate with AUN in engineering research and security intelligence sharing. The Commander, who now oversees the 153 Base Service Group, the 163 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, the 103 Strike Group, and the 203 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Units, said, "there is a lot we can achieve together when we collaborate on new ideas in engineering research because the Air Force Base has many facilities, and we are ready to help and partner with AUN."
Air Commodore Dakwat revealed that his institution has collaborated with forty researchers and fifty-six Nigerian Universities, the recent one being the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. He also narrated how the Nigerian Air Force, during the COVID-19 lockdown, collaborated with other researchers to manufacture ventilators to assist the health sector in tackling and managing the pandemic across the country, with him leading the Air Force team.
Commodore Dakwat thanked the President for a warm and cordial reception, after which they exchanged souvenirs.
Air Commodore Alheri Longi Dakwat was born in 1972 in Pankshin Local Government of Plateau State. He began his military career as a Cadet of the Nigerian Defense Academy in 1991 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in 1996. He had his early Aircraft Engineering Specialist Training from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1999, where he specialized in Aeronautics Maintenance Engineering. He attended a Junior Staff Course in 2001 at Jaji, Kaduna State. He also studied at the Air Force Command College in Beijing, China, in 2007. He was trained in Toulouse, France, and Italy on Artier 82 Maritime Patrol Aircraft for his Senior Staff Courses as a T1 Mechanic and Engine Run-up Specialist. He holds a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Aeronautics Engineering Institute, Brazil, where he achieved an international journal publication. Recently, he completed his Master's Degree in Philosophy and Strategic Studies. He was the Production Manager at the Armed Forces Electrical and Mechanic Engineering Workshop at the Defense Headquarters, Abuja. He was once a Deputy Director of Maintenance at the Directorate of Aircraft Engineering Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Abuja. He is a fellow of the National Defense College, Abuja, with numerous other career achievements. He was also the Dean of Post Graduate Studies Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, and later became the Registrar of the institution.
Reported by Abah John