On Friday, October 24, President Bola Tinubu made changes within the hierarchy of the Nigerian Military by appointing new service chiefs to lead the Armed Forces.
A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the president has appointed General Olufemi Oluyede, the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), as a replacement for the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, while Major General W Shuaibu was named the new COAS.
In addition, the president also appointed a new Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke; Rear Admiral I Abbas as the new Chief of Naval Staff and Major General E. A. P Undiendeye as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
With the new appointments made in the Nigerian Armed Forces, here are a few things to know about the new CA, AVM Aneke:
1. Birth and Family
Born in Makurdi, Benue State, to the family of Air Warrant Officer Sylvester and Mrs Ngozi Aneke on February 20, 1972, AVM Aneke is happily married to Mrs Ngozi Enderline Aneke.
His family is blessed with three children – Chukwuebuka Kelvin Aneke, Ifeanyichukwu Brian Aneke and Uchechukwu Jason Aneke.
A lover of music and movies, the new CAS, who hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State enjoys spending time flying.
2. Education
AVM Aneke obtained his First School Leaving Certificate upon graduation from the Army Children School New Cantonment ‘A’ NDA Kaduna, where he did his secondary school between 1976 and 1982. He later proceeded to Government College, Kaduna where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1987.
He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, a Master’s in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, a Master’s in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Air War College United States Air Force Air University Montgomery Alabama.
3. Military Career
Aneke started his military career on September 10, 1988, upon graduation from Government College and was enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 40th Regular Course. On September 10, 1993, he was commissioned as a pilot officer into the Nigerian Air Force.
The new CAS has attended various military courses, including the certificate in Aeromechanical Engineering from the Officers Engineering School Technical Training Group (now Air Force Institute of Technology); Ab-initia Flying Training from 301 Flying Training School and Basic Flying Training from 301 Flying Training School, now 401 FTS.
He also attended the Prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College, where he obtained certificates for the Junior and Senior Staff Courses respectively.
4. Appointments
Throughout his career life in the Nigerian Air Force, AVM Aneke has held several positions including serving as an administrative officer at Aircraft Overhaul Centre Aircraft Maintenance Depot Ikeja; admin officer and Group Logistics Officer at 301 Flying Training School NAF Base Kaduna; a Commanding Officer Base Services Wing Air Maritime Group Benin and a Staff Officer United Nation Peace Keeping Mission on Congo (MONUC) Kishasha.
He was also the Fleet Training Officer, Wing Chief Admin and Wing Chief Operations all at the Presidential Air Fleet Abuja, Group Operations Officer and later Commander 307 Executive Air Lift Group Abuja, Deputy Director Evaluation (Air) Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Command Evaluation Officer Air Training Command Kaduna, Command Operations Officer and Evaluation Officer Tactical Air Training Command Makurdi and the Chief of Staff Air Training Command Kaduna.
Other positions held by AVM Aneke are Command Operations Officer Tactical Air Command Makurdi; Director of Safety Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja; Deputy Director Operations Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force and the Director of Policy Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.
Until his appointment as CAS, he served as the Deputy Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (Africa’s Foremost Military University) in Kaduna.
5. Flying Experience
AVM Aneke is an authorized and licensed pilot who has flown the Air Beetle 18, Air Beetle 18 extended version, Dornier-228, Citation-500, Falcon 900, Gulf Stream V, Gulf Stream 550 and the Hawker-4000.
The new CAS has an Advanced Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) with a total of 4,359 flying hours. His medals and Awards include GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM Psc USAFWC MSc MIAD MPEDS among others.
