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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called on youths in South-East to take up career and join in advancing operational capabilities of Nigerian Air Force.

The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), NAF Ground Training Command (GTC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ahmed Shinkafi, made the call during an Open Day, which is part of activities lined up to commemorate the 61st Anniversary of NAF in Enugu on Friday.

Shinkafi, who was represented by the Chief of Staff of the GTC, AVM Anthony Martins, said that it had been observed that youths within the South-East “show low interest in joining NAF as well as other military and para-military platforms.”

“You can make a distinguished career and great patriotism to the country as you serve our fatherland through NAF since there is continuous career progression and opportunity of educational advancement and trainings within and outside the country.

“We are also interested in have female airwomen, combatants and officers as NAF is giving equal opportunities to both genders to prove themselves.

“We want females to bring positive energy, ideas and innovation to help NAF combat current and future emerging threats to our nation and keep everybody safe and secured,” he said.

He also urged eminent personalities that attended the event to sensitise their youths to join the air force and fill the quota of their various states within the South-East.

According to him, NAF needed divers ideas and officers from various backgrounds and regions to sustain its greatness.

Shinkafi, who is the Special Guest of Honour in the open day, said that NAF was currently one of the powerhouse in air operational and tactic combats in Africa and had participated in various successful peace keeping operations in Africa.

“NAF’s operations today is griven by cutting-edge tecnological and innovative platforms, aircrafts, weapons and highly trained personnel to ensure accuracy, precision and success of all operations and campaigns,” he said.

Speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa in Enugu State, Alhaji Abubakar Sambo, commended NAF for attaining 61 years and upholding the protection of the nation’s territory intergrity all these years.
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Sambo, who is the leader of the Hausa community in Enugu State, noted that the open day had afforded civil populance the opportunity to interact, ask questions and get immediate feedback on NAF operations, regimentation and career prospects.

A student, Master Ralph Uchechukwu, said that he was excited seeing an aircraft airlift and land smoothly as well as the routine engineering checks that is alway conducted before any aircraft goes into daily or routine operations.

Uchechukwu, who is from Nike Grammar School, Abakpa, said that with the new orientation about NAF he gained, he would like to be a pilot serving in the NAF.

Miss Nonye Onyeabor, a student of
New Haven Secondary School, Emene, said that the career prospects in NAF “is promising to me and one that provide me and any other female opportunity to excel.”

The event featured airing of documentaries about the history and operations of NAF; exhibition; tour of historical photo galleries and mini-museums; guided tour of some NAF platforms; interactive session and group photograph.