NAF holds enlightenment workshop on air power for journalists

macfranc007 March 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is cementing its relationship with journalists

- A one-day enlightenment workshop on air power was organised for defence correspondents in Abuja recently

- The enlightenment workshop was also intended to acquaint journalists with various terminologies in reporting the activities of NAF

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday, March 8, held a one-day enlightenment workshop on air power for defence correspondents in Abuja.

The Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) at Headquarters NAF, Abuja, organized the workshop, which witnessed a large turnout of journalists from different media organizations covering the defence beat.

NAF holds enlightenment workshop on air power for defence correspondents

Cross section of defence correspondents at the enlightenment workshop on air power. Photo credit: NAF

The workshop was aimed at better equipping defence correspondents with requisite skills and updated knowledge on the application of air power.

The enlightenment workshop was also intended to acquaint defence correspondents with various air power terminologies in a bid to enhance professionalism in the reportage of NAF events thereby projecting the NAF in a more accurate and balanced manner.

Resource persons at the enlightenment workshop on air power for defence correspondents. Photo credit: NAF

While declaring the workshop open, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya, stated that information management in contemporary times is critical to national development.

He added that the way information is processed could affect national security either positively or negatively.

“Therefore, a defence correspondent must understand the terminologies associated with his beat to enable him report events professionally,” he stated.

NAIJ.com's associate senior content editor, Jerrywright Ukwu receives his certificate from the NAF Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya after the workshop. Photo credit: NAF

The CAS enjoined defence correspondents to make good use of the opportunity offered by the workshop to acquire pertinent knowledge about the NAF.

According to him, there is a growing need for journalists to understand the nuances and technicalities involved in air operations as the nation strives to maintain peace in the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, commended the media for their dedication in covering and reporting military activities.

He pointed out that the workshop could not have come at a more appropriate time than now, as public expectation of accurate and timely dissemination of information on NAF operations across the country is on the increase.

Nigerian Air Force officers and defence correspondents in a group photograph after the workshop. Photo credit: NAF

According to him, the nature of warfare has assumed a new dimension and therefore, accurate reportage of NAF air operations would prevent avoidable controversies. He then expressed his appreciation to the CAS for his strategic guidance, which led to the conduct of the workshop.

During the one-day workshop, resource persons, all of who are specialists from the NAF, presented 5 papers.

The topics of the papers include:

1. NAF Hierarchy and Rank Structure

2. Characteristics and Limitations of Air Power

3. Aircraft types in the NAF Inventory and Roles

4. Armaments on NAF Aircraft and

5. Military-Media Relations

While speaking on ‘Military-Media Relations,' Air Vice Marshal Adesanya charged the media to be even more professional in their reportage while also remaining conscious of the need to uphold integrity.

The DOPRI stated that the media are veritable partners in national development and as such, “patriotism should override sensationalism and commercialism in the course of practising journalism.”

Speaking further, he said the media should always work together with the military, especially now that the nation is experiencing various security challenges.

“The responsibility of fighting security challenges in the country should not be left in the hands of the military only, the media could also help through the quality and contents of their reportage,” he said.

At the end of the workshop, certificates of participation were presented to the nearly 60 defence correspondents, who attended the workshop.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has denied media reports suggesting it had deployed 100 fighter jets in the search for the missing girls abducted from Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe state on Monday, February 19.

The director of public relations and information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, in a statement said the Air Force deployed sorties and not 100 aircraft for the search of the abducted Dapchi school girls.

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