By Emmanuel Obisue
Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa has replaced Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet as Director of Public Relations and Information, DOPRI, for the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.
The NAF said the appointment was subject to the approval of the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar. “The CAS also approved the redeployment of the erstwhile DOPRI, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, to the newly established NAF Civil-Military Relations Branch as Director of Coordination and Cooperation,” the NAF said in a statement on Tuesday.
In his remarks at the brief handover ceremony held at the NAF Headquarters Abuja, Air Commodore Akinboyewa expressed gratitude to the CAS for confidently trusting him with the task of managing the image of the NAF.
While soliciting the support of the media to ease his operations, the new NAF spokesman extolled the “commendable work”, done by his predecessor, and commended the media for alloying him support throughout his time.
He further pledged to keep the public abreast of NAF successes and general operations as it pertains to the fight against insecurity.
Speaking shortly before handing over, Air Vice Marshal Gabkwet recalled his time as NAF spokesman, stating that he is “highly honored” to have served the NAF and Nigerians in that capacity.
On his successor, he said Akinboyewa “will be continuing from where I stopped. I believe the CAS has picked the right officer to project the image of the NAF”. “I strongly believe that Akinboyewa comes highly qualified for this position. I have known him for over 30 years,” he added.
He urged journalists to extend the kind of support and friendship accorded to him to the new spokesman to enable him “settle down” in his new role.
He acknowledged the daunting challenges for speaking for the Air Force in the face of insecurity facing the country.
Stanley Ogadigo, Chairman Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, FCT Chapter, who was special guest at the handover ceremony, remarked that managing reputation of a public or private institution can only be properly done by a professional.
He thus commended both the outgoing and incoming NAF spokesmen for identifying with the institute.