Ndifreke P. Akpan (Govt House)
The Akwa Ibom State Government has called for the establishment of an Air Force Base in the state.
The State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel made the call on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at a banquet in honour of the Nigerian Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S. B. Abubakar in Government House, Uyo.
Governor Emmanuel said that the state government had already given enough land for the anticipated Air Force Base in Akwa Ibom.
Mr Emmanuel explained that apart from enhancing the security apparatus of Akwa Ibom with the longest coastline in the country, the Air Force Base is expected to complete the value chain arising from the brilliant performance by the students of Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School, Uyo.
He assured the visitors that the state will cooperate with the Nigerian Air Force just like it was doing with the Army, Navy and others for the achievement of set goals.
The Governor commended authorities in the school and the students for making the school the best of its kind in Nigeria as students scored hundred percent in the last Senior School Certificate Examination.
The Governor who had earlier gone to the school to inaugurate an hostel project built by the Chief of the Air Staff applauded the standard of job done and compared it to standard university hostels of years gone by.
The elated Governor said, "As you can see, I am full of smiles because as we were marching in here, the Chief of the Air Staff whispered to me something that I already know, that this school is the best Air Force school in the country." Governor Emmanuel further stated that
Responding, the Chief of the Air Staff expressed appreciation to the Governor for the show of love to him and his entourage and assured that the Air Force will immediately begin the process of bringing in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, MRO which has already indicated interest to come into the state.
"I thank the teaching and non teaching staff for maintaining the standard in this school, this is one place that I know over the years, the standard, rather than falling is improving every year. I want to challenge you, now that you are on top, you must remain on top. Sustainability is one of the qualities of excellence. Once you achieve excellence, you must find a way to sustain it".
The Chief of the Air Staff said that the request for an Air Force Base in Akwa Ibom State will be closely studied with further assurance that something good will come out of it.
The Chief of the Air Staff announced that there will be substantial infrastructure upgrade in the Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School in Akwa Ibom state for a more conducive learning environment.
According to the Chief of the Air Staff, he has directed the Air Force Research and Development Center at the Air Force Institute of Technology to move into Akwa Ibom and try to see how they can partner with the universities in the state with a view to addressing some aircraft maintenance challenges.
He said the Air Force was currently having an M.O.U with fifteen Nigerian Universities who have assisted in solving so many problems that would have cost several millions of dollars.
The students and staff of the school had reasons to smile as the State Governor announced the donation of food items for them before departure.
He expressed the hope that the Universities in Akwa Ibom state will also add value to what they were doing hence the earlier decision for partnership. Earlier, the Chief of the Air Staff had led his entourage on a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Uyo.
He told the State Chief Executive Officer that they were in the state on operational tour of their facilities particularly, the Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School which he declared the best in the country.
He said it would have been inappropriate for him and his team to come into the state without paying a courtesy visit to the Governor in order to thank him and all the people of Akwa Ibom for giving the Air Force all the support required to function in the state.
More pictures below...
No comments: