* Logo Source: The Eagle Online
Group Capt. Edem Oyo-Ita was born on the 16th of July, 1954 in the beautiful city of Calabar, Cross River State.
His persistent passion for education as an energetic lad got him enrolled in African Church Primary School Calabar, where he had his Primary School Certificate. He proceeded from there to Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar, Cross River State in 1970.
He later attended Methodist Boys High School, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, in 1972, where he excelled in Physics, Mathematics and Geography as an astute science student.
Enlisted in Regular Course 16 of the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) Kaduna and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in 1976.Thereafter, went to RAF Aeronautical College Cranwell Lincolnshire United Kingdom where he graduated with grade B1 in 1977.
For his unquenchable quest for knowledge, the young Oyo-Ita left the shores of Nigeria to Royal Air Force Aeronautical College, Cranwell Lincolnshire United Kingdom in 1977 and proved himself worthy by obtaining a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering on Aircraft Power Plant.
Oyo – Ita never relented, he went on to distinguish himself in his military dexterity by not only passing the Junior Command and Staff College, Junior Division, Jaji in 1983 but also passing the Command and State College (CSC), Senior Division from Armed Forces Command and State College, Jaji, Kaduna State in 1991.
With his robust Military training and experiences it was easy for him to pass his Aircraft Maintenance Officers’ Courses and type rated in Dornier AC and Alpha Jet on D028 Sky servant and D0228 Light Liaison Short Shuttle Aircrafts in Dornier Logistics and Training School Munich, Germany in 1979.
He also obtained the License for Aircraft Ground Run-up and Taxi for maintenance check purpose from Dornier Logistics Training School Germany in 1980.
He later moved to SNECMA, France, where he bagged a certificate in Aircraft Engine Maintenance and a certificate in Aircraft composite Wing Technology at Airbus Industries Training Facilities in Toulouse, France.
Back home from overseas to add to his professional feat, Group Capt. Oyo – Ita (rtd.) obtained certificates in the following courses; Engineering Management Course at Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Logistics Group, Kaduna in 1981 and Officers’ Computer Appreciation Course at the Nigerian Air Force Technical Training Group (TTG) in 1993 respectively.
Having being employed as a Technical Officer Grade 2 in the Nigerian Customs Service in January 1974, prepared him for the task ahead where he later began his military career upon being commissioned. He became an Aircraft Engineering Maintenance Officer on Fokker 27 Aircraft; D028 and D0228, Light Liaison Aircraft. He had his hands too on the Alpha Jet and L-39 Battle field Support Aircraft between 1978 and 1984.
As intelligent military personnel, he coordinated the maintenance activities of aircraft technicians, scheduling of all forms of maintenance resources, managing the welfare of maintenance personnel and analysing aircraft maintenance requirements.
Being good on the job made him to be the Engineering Operations Manager in the Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna, Kano and NAF Kainji from 1984 to 1990, where he handled onerous assignments like planning the activities of aircraft maintenance engineering, forecasting spares and equipment requirements, and ensuring strict adherence to safety procedures and standards.
Others are planning and organising re-training of maintenance personnel, coordination of engineering specialist activities covering avionics, aircraft, power plant, communication and control systems.
From there he was made the Commanding Officer, as a matter of fact, the pioneer commanding officer, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) logistics management centre, Kainji, the then Kaduna State in 1991- 1992. As a commanding officer, he developed a system to computerise aircraft maintenance in all Force units, a system to computerise aircraft spare parts management in all Air Force units and establishing an aircraft data link with overseas suppliers.
Group Capt. Oyo-Ita (rtd.) was also the Nigerian Air Force Projects Coordinator/Representative in Europe, covering projects in England, France, Germany and Italy. His job profile includes ensuring compliance to contractual specifications in Aircraft Manufacture, Flight crew training, Spares supply, Aircraft overhaul and Maintenance crew training.
He was one of the finest officers responsible for the production of Falcon 900 Presidential aircraft, crew training and production of Super Puma helicopters in France and also, for the maintenance/ recalibration of Alpha-JET and C-130 Hercules aircraft in Germany and Crew training on G-222 medium lift aircraft in Italy.
For carving a niche for himself, he was appointed the Secretary of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Tenders Board that gave him the platform to assist the Chief of Air Staff in managing allocated funds for capital projects and coordination of NAF tenders procedures for procurement.
He left NAF tenders board to become the Coordinator NAF Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) Projects.
During this time he was saddled with the responsibility of liaising with Armed Forces PTF on behalf of the Nigerian Air Force, liaising with air force unit commanders in determining priority projects for execution and advising the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) on PTF projects.
While on that assignment he was involved in the construction Air Force base, Bill Clinton Boulevard, Abuja, the completion of the renovation of Air Force Barracks in Benin and Kainji.
He participated actively in the construction of Air-39 Hangar in NAF Kano, the equipping of Aero Medical Centre Kaduna and the rehabilitation of facilities in all NAF Units.
In 1997, Group Capt. Oyo – Ita (rtd.) was appointed the Secretary, Project Implementation Monitoring Team, where he developed data base for Air Force projects, ensuring uniformity/standardization of projects in all NAF units and ensuring strict compliance to contractual specifications till 1999.
He progressed to become the Ground Training Officer (PROVOST) Ground Training Group now known NAF Institute of Technology, Kaduna in 1999 – August 2000 and performed creditably in the area of directing academic curriculum in the institution, ensuring availability of facilities/staff and coordination all training programmes in the institution.
He took part as one of the team consultant on the establishment of DASSAB Airline.
He has a vast military operational experience to his credit and a lover of sports.
On the 27th of February 2017, he was appointed the Director, Air Transport Regulations of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Group Capt. Edem Oyo – Ita (Rtd.) is a Christian and happily married with five children.
Dear Sir,
Nice profile but what is the intention ? why now? could it be attributed to ongoing concerns raised by industry stakeholders?
Thanks for the comment sir, the intention is for the public to read and judge. Secondly, the man at the centre of the impending crisis has the right to also state his own side of the story.