The Nigerian Air Force has appointed a new spokesman to manage its public affairs activities. The new Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, replaces the former Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, who has been moved to the Defence Headquarters as Theatre Information Officer.
Alonge’s new appointment was created recently specifically to handle media operations with respect to the ongoing counter insurgency operation in Northeast Nigeria. The new office is part of the recent efforts by the military leadership to restructure the Northeast campaign in order to effectively counter the Boko Haram insurgents and enhance the success of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE.
Until his recent appointment, Group Captain Famuyiwa was Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force. He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on 17 August 1990 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 42. He graduated from NDA on 16 September 1995 with BSc (Hons) Chemistry, emerging the Best Graduating Cadet in the Chemistry Department and Faculty of Science, and the overall Best-All-Round Air Force cadet in his set.
Group Captain Famuyiwa is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba-Lagos where he obtained his postgraduate diploma in Journalism. He also holds Diploma in Public Administration (Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) as well as Master’s Degree in Environmental Management (University of Lagos), and Human Resource Management (University of Birmingham, United Kingdom).
The incumbent DOPRI has served in various Units and Commands in the Nigerian Air Force as a Public Relations Officer, including the Military Pensions Board where he was the first PRO. He is a member of several professional bodies including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), United Kingdom. He is also a member of the prestigious global Chevening Community with over 44,000 alumni worldwide.