The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, 24 January 2020, inaugurated the maiden Command Responsibility Course at the Air Force War College (AFWC), Makurdi in Benue State. The Command Responsibility Course 1/2020, which has 24 participants, is designed to expose the commanders and potential commanders to knowledge and skills which would enable them function effectively and efficiently in line with the ethics and core values of the NAF.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Guest of Honour (GOH), the Chief of Administration (COA) Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Muhammed Idris, while acknowledging the foresight of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for initiating the Course, remarked that in order for the NAF to meet its constitutional role of ensuring Nigeria’s territorial integrity, it needs competent commanders at all levels to provide the requisite leadership for the attainment of organizational goals. According to him, “the importance of having competent, knowledgeable and innovative leadership, especially at Unit level in the NAF cannot be overemphasized”.
The COA congratulated the participants for being selected to attend the Course, urging them to make the most of the opportunity, especially because it was holding at a critical time when solutions were being sought to the rampant wave of extremism and militancy currently threatening national, regional and indeed global security. He therefore charged them to acquire the necessary knowledge to optimally utilise the human and material resources under them to achieve the overall goals and objectives of the Service.
In his welcome address, the Commandant AFWC, AVM Charles Oghomwen, said the College had developed a curriculum which captures the essence of command responsibilities covering areas such as Leadership, Unit Administration, Financial and Legal Administration, Base Defence, Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and Air Power, amongst others. He noted that, in order to effectively address the thematic areas covered in the curriculum, the College had selected experienced resource persons to serve as Facilitators for the Course. He further stressed that, the Course would be delivered through a mix of presentations, interactive sessions and scenario handling. All these, he said, were intended to ensure that the theoretical sessions are consolidated with hands-on experience.
Also present at the event were the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, AVM Olusegun Philip, as well as Commanders of collocated Units and other senior military officers in Makurdi.
