Photo: Gabkwet
By Sunday Odita
It is not news that Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet represents everything that has to do with Public Relations and image management.
At times, the pressure of being a good man can feel a little much, no matter how much you want to become a good man.
The Air Commodore is a good man in all ramifications.
Within my over one year of interfacing with this one-star General, my perception about the Airforce has changed.
Having sailed far and wide with the navy as a defence correspondent for two decades, I had thought only the Nigerian navy could best be described as the most civilian friendly armed force.
However, the humane and open-hearted nature of Air Commodore Gabkwet during his reign as Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) triggered more interest in me for the Airforce.
Although strict and principled, he is a passionate soldier, who understands his assignment as the defender of the Air Force and does not belittle anyone in trying to do his job.
He operated an open-door policy and responded to all enquiries I put across to him promptly and respectfully.
General Gabkwet, like I always call him, has a gift to connect to people, understand them, make them feel special and mattered.
However, he extremely despised ‘unconstructive’ criticism of the military.
A great writer and reader, the general encouraged me to write a book on my experience on the military beat, which I am putting pen and paper together to actualize.
Like the good man that he is, General will always want you to shine.
He is a patient officer and listens to newsmen.
It is my utmost belief that the General would bring his robust PR prowess to bare at the 551 NAF Station, Jos which is his new place of primary assignment.
It is said that if you are brave to say goodbye, life will reward you with new and beautiful hello.
I wish my great General and friend a resounding goodluck in his new office.
I pray for him to find more opportunities and success along the way of his dreams.
Gabkwet was born on December 23, 1971 and was appointed as the 17th spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force in March 2021 by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
He had his early education at Baptist Primary School, Jos from 1977 to 1983 and thereafter proceeded to the prestigious Saint Joseph’s College, Vom, Jos South where he obtained his General Certificate of Education.
Gabkwet then proceeded to study veterinary medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He later joined the military in August 1990 and was commissioned as an officer cadet of the 42nd Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA.
Gabkwet graduated on 16 August 1996 from the NDA with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and was subsequently commissioned as a NAF Pilot Officer.
Air Cdr Gabkwet has held several appointments in the course of his military career.
In 1998, he was the Group Public Relations Officer (GPRO) at Air Weapon School (Now 407 Air Combat Training Group), Kainji.
At various times, he served as the Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO) at Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Training Command, (Now Air Training Command), Kaduna, as well as Logistics Command, Lagos.
Gabkwet was also a United Nations Military observer at the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2004 and 2005, where he also acted as the Assistant spokesman attached to the Office of the Force Commander.
A member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, MNIPR, he also served as the first press officer to the Chief of the Air Staff between 2010 and 2012.
Air Cdr Gabkwet also served for 2 years as Nigeria’s Air Attaché, and Secretary of the African and Middle East Defence Attaches in China, a socio-cultural group catering to the military interest of Africa and Middle Eastern Nations in China.
In 2018, he was appointed as the Command Training Officer at the Ground Training Command, Enugu.
Prior to his appointment as the spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force, he was a member of Directing Staff and Director Coordination at the Air Force War College, Makurdi.
You will be missed sir.
Sunday Odita is a senior Defence and Crime Correspondent with the Guardian Newspaper.
