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Tag: veterans

  • CAS to veterans: Your services to nation highly appreciated

    CAS to veterans: Your services to nation highly appreciated

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says the contributions of veterans are highly appreciated, reiterating his commitment to their welfare.

    According to him, their invaluable services to the nation will never be in vain. Abubakar made the commitment on Saturday at a parley with the Nigerian Air Force’s veterans in Kaduna .

    The air chief was represented by the Chief of Administration, NAF Headquarters, AVM Idi Sani.

    He explained that the parley was his initiative to honour the NAF veterans in appreciation of their services and dedication during their days of service.

    Abubakar added that the parley was to connect and engage serving personnel with the veterans so as to understand their welfare issues and make efforts to ensure that they were better managed.

    He said, “It is also an avenue created to ensure that the serving personnel are also motivated by the situation so as to ensure they do their best in giving to the service from the experiences they will gain during interaction.”

    Abubakar said the service expected the veterans to continue being loyal and honest in all their endeavors, while pledging to continue taking care of them and the serving personnel.

    He disclosed that NAF has plans for re-engagement of  the skilled veterans, adding that the applications were currently open for those with skills.

    Abubakar urged the serving personnel to continue  taking care of the veterans for them to also continue being taken care of when they leave the service

    He appreciated the veterans’ efforts and support during their service years, reassuring them that NAF would not forget them.

    Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command, AVM Abubakar Abdullahi,  acknowledged their sacrifices and contributions to the nation.

    Abdullahi emphasized NAF’s commitment to honoring its veterans, just as it routinely remembers and celebrates its fallen heroes.

    He said that the event was initiated in 2024 by the current NAF’s administration and it has become an annual tradition.

    “The “CAS Parley with NAF veterans serves as a platform to reconnect with the veterans, demonstrate its appreciation for their service, and provide support for their welfare.

    “The event is being held simultaneously in all NAF units and formations across the country, “he said

    The Chairman of the Association of NAF veterans in the state, retired Warrant Officer Yusuf Usman,  commended the CAS for prioritizing the welfare of both serving and retired officers.

    The event was attended by retired officers, Airmen/Airwomen from the Kaduna Area. It featured free medical services, lectures on health and financial concerns and interactive sessions.

  • Military retirees demand own ministry

    Military retirees in the country have urged the Federal Government to upgrade the Veterans Affairs Division in the Ministry of Defence to a full fledge ministry to cater for their welfare.

    The retirees made the call in a communiqué issued to newsmen on Saturday in Abuja at the end of a 3-day retreat on “Unification of Military Veterans Associations”.

    They also called on government at all levels to exploit the untapped resources that abound in them.

    The veteran said that they had resolved to operate under one umbrella body known as “Veterans Federation of Nigeria”.

    They pledged loyalty to the government and readiness to contribute to national security and development and called on the ministry of defence and Defence Headquarters to develop a database for them.

    They said such database should detail their strength, areas of specialisation and experience for the purpose re-engagement.

    The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that at the opening of the retreat on Thursday, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin stressed the need to have a unified veterans’ body in the country.

    Olonisakin had noted that the “proliferations of veteran associations have not yielded desired results hence the need to explore platform that can unify such associations.”

    He charged the retreat to come up with an ad hoc committee to begin the unification process and establishment of the “Veterans Association of Nigeria””.

  • BON Awards to honour Sola Sobola, Zebudaya and others

    BON Awards to honour Sola Sobola, Zebudaya and others

    Best Of Nollywood (BON) Awards is set to honour Nollywood veterans who have made their marks in the movie industry. From Tade Ogidan to Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, all of these distinguished individuals have been past recipients of the BON Special Recognition.

    We present to you the three veterans who have been identified as the recipients of the 2016 prize with a spotlight on their achievements.

    zebu

    CHIKA CHUKWUNONSO OPALA, MON. MFR

    Chief Zebrudaya alias 4.30 became popular for his self -produced hit comedy series in the titled ‘New Masqurade’, which ran between 1983 – 1993. His character was an audience delight for his incorrect use of the English language. For as many that were old enough to see the series that year, you will agree that this fantastic thespian made those years memorable indeed. Suffice to say that he laid the pebble for what comedy actors of this generation built on today.

    sola

    SOLA SOBOWALE

    A writer, actor, producer and director; although the veteran became registered on the mind of the Nigerian audience for her role as ‘Toyin Tomato’, in the series ‘OH FATHER OH DAUGHTER’, Sola’s career dates back to productions such as the now rested ‘Village Headmaster’ , Mirror in the Sun, ‘Asewo To Re Mecca’, ‘Dangerous Twins’, ‘Family On Fire’, and most recently ‘The wedding Party’.

    She learnt the thespian art under the tutelage of Adebayo Salami’s group known as Awada Kerikeri. In 2010, she scripted, produced and directed, ‘Ohun Oko Somida’.

     

    fidelis

    FIDELIS DUKER

    This renowned filmmaker needs no introduction; he is the director of the Abuja Int’l Film and Video Festival, a former president of the Director’s Guild of Nigeria. Duker has about 200 films to his credit. This Iconic filmmaker’s career dates back to 1988 where he wrote scripts for ‘Tales by Moonlight’, the popular Television program for kids, until 1992.

    He took his time to study the working models in the film business before lunching; he was production manager between 1989 and 1991, before he started his own production. His debut as a producer was titled ‘ SKELETON’. Several stars that flood the industry today cut their teeth to fame through his productions.