A major realignment of officers in the Nigerian Air Force as affected the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in Lagos as Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Michael Chinegwu Ekwueme has assumed office as the 43rd Commandant of the centre.
He succeeds Air Vice Marshal NI Ilo, who has been redeployed as the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command (TAC), Makurdi.
NAFRC is a tri-service institution responsible for preparing retiring and retired personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces for productive lives after military service through vocational training, entrepreneurship development and economic empowerment programmes.
Ekwueme brings extensive operational, instructional, technical and administrative experience to the new assignment, having held several command and strategic positions in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Born on August 19, 1973, in Ebe, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ekwueme attended the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu, where he graduated as the Best Graduating Student in 1989.
He subsequently gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, in 1990 as a member of the 42 Regular Course. He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Second Class Upper Division, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer.
The new commandant holds several postgraduate qualifications, including a Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He also obtained a Master’s degree in Conflict, Security and Development from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, as a Chevening Scholar, and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
In 2023, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
A professionally trained military pilot, Ekwueme holds a Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-Engine and Instrument Rating from the International Aviation College, Ilorin, as well as a Beechcraft King Air 350i Type-Rating from FlightSafety International, Atlanta, United States.
His flying experience covers the Air Beetle, DA-40, DA-42 and Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft.
During his military career, Ekwueme participated in several internal security and counter-insurgency operations, including Operations AWATSE, SHARAN DAJI, LAFIYA DOLE, HADIN KAI and WHIRL PUNCH.
His previous appointments include Instructor at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Commanding Officer, 1 Armament Maintenance Centre, Makurdi; and Commanding Officer, Academic Wing, 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna.
He also served as Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the National Defence College, Abuja, where he later became Director of Information and Communications Technology.
Other positions held by the senior officer include Commander, 109 Combat Reconnaissance Group, Yola; Chief of Staff, Air Training Command; Chief of Staff, Tactical Air Command; Director of Evaluation, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force; and Commandant, Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre, Abuja.
Before his appointment as NAFRC Commandant, he served as Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.
Ekwueme’s military service has earned him several awards and commendations, including the Best All-Round Student (Air Force) award at Junior Staff Course 51/2001 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
He also received the Chief of the Air Staff Award for Best in Airpower at Air Force War College Course 1.
In February 2022 and August 2024, he received two Chief of the Air Staff Letters of Commendation in recognition of his contributions to counter-terrorism operations and his leadership as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Nigerian Air Force at 60 celebrations and the Third African Air Forces Forum.
Beyond his military career, Ekwueme is a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria and a member of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria, the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice.
His appointment comes with the responsibility of strengthening NAFRC’s capacity to equip retiring military personnel with the skills, knowledge and opportunities required to establish sustainable livelihoods after leaving active service.
