17th COMMANDANT OF AFCSC RESUMES DUTY BY Flt Lt CI Erondu
 

A remarkable dimension was added to the history of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, on 3 August 2009 as the 17th Commandant of the great institution resumed duty. The new Commandant of the College is Air Vice Marshal Sunday Ali Leks who until his recent appointment was the Deputy Commandant of Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.

In his speech, during handing and taking over ceremony held in the College Conference Hall, the immediate past Commandant of the institution, Air Vice Marshal Sonni Bernard Gberevbie expressed his pleasure to hand over the affairs of the College to the new Commandant, whom he explained was worthy to succeed him as the new Commandant of the institution.

Air Vice Marshal Gberevbie who commenced his terminal leave on the 3 August 2009 told his successor that he had been fortunate to have a group of dedicated officers who through their cooperation contributed immensely to his achievements while in the College. He called on the staff officers of the College to extend the same cooperation to the new Commandant, adding that the new Commandant is a decent gentleman whom the officers of AFCSC would enjoy working with.

Responding, the new Commandant of the College, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Ali Leks stated that he was privileged to take over the leadership of the institution from Air Vice Marshal Gberevbie. According to him, the former Commandant is a gentleman per excellence who believes in learning what is right, doing what is right and at the same time expecting what is right from others.

Air Vice Marshal Leks further stated that it was not out of character that his predecessor has brought the sense of his person to bear on a very short time he was in the AFCSC. “I have not gone round yet, but you can’t hide light when it is standing crystally clear on the hill. It shines far and wide. Within a short time he was here, he made tremendous changes in the right direction in the management of affairs of AFCSC”, he added.

Furthermore, the Commandant of the AFCSC advised the former Commandant of the College to maintain his decent way of life which he had projected in the Service of the Armed Forces, as it would help him to settle gently in his civilian life.

The high points of the handing and taking over ceremony between the 2 Air Force Generals featured the handing over of the College Banner, the College Commandant’s Flag from the former Commandant to the new Commandant, signing of handing and taking over notes, and the lowering of the former Commandant’s Flag and the subsequent hoisting of the new Commandant’s flag.

Present at the epoch making occasion were: the new Deputy Commandant of AFCSC, Rear Admiral Woyengidikpete Geoffrey Yanga, Directors, Chief Instructors, some members of the Administrative Staff and Senior Civilian Staff of the College.



 

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