NAMA director bags National Order of Merit Award
By Abisola THOMPSON
President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award on the Director of Safety Electronics and Engineering Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mr Farouk Umar.
Mr Stephen Onabe, Chief Public Affairs Officer of NAMA said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
Onabe said the award was in recognition of his immense contributions toward the improvement of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities to ensure safe and efficient air traffic services in the Nigerian airspace,
He said Umar made the list of 25 notable Nigerians and seven organisations who received the prestigious award at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja
According to him, the National Productivity Day Celebration and Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award was themed:”Productivity for National Re-engineering, Security and Growth”.
President Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, said his administration was committed to the promotion of the ideals of a productive nation.
Buhari gave the significant role of productivity in wealth creation, employment generation, social progress and improved standard of living, hence the need to entrench the culture of productivity and excellence in the psyche of all Nigerians.
He tasked the awardees to redouble their efforts toward making Nigeria a better and more productive country.
In his remarks after receiving the award, Umar said the recognition by the president would galvanise him to work harder for the development of the nation.
Umar expressed optimism that Nigeria was on the right trajectory toward growth and development given the efforts of the present administration.
He advised Nigerians, particularly his colleagues at NAMA to imbibe the virtues of hard work, perseverance and dedication to duty.
The NAMA director said, “The lesson of this recognition is that hard work pays, and surely be rewarded in the fullness of time.”
Umar attended Government Science Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, from where he bagged a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
He later enrolled at the Lagos State University (LASU) where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1999 and Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira in 2009.
A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Chartered Institute of Administration, Umar was in 2018 also conferred with the fellowship of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE).
He has served NAMA in various sensitive capacities including Airspace Manager, Minna Airport and General Manager, Special Projects.
In 2016, he rose to the position of substantive Director, Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES), a position he occupies to date.
According to the citation by the National Productivity Centre, Umar’s recognition by the President came on the heels the installation of critical navigational aids like the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and Doppler Very High Omni-Directional Radio Range (DVOR) in some strategic airports in the country which he spearheaded.
Umar who has shown commitment towards ensuring that NAMA attained its statutory mandate through his engineering know-how and application of new technology based on best practices and international standards.
Umar was registered with the council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is also a member of the National Air Traffic Engineers (NAAE), Chartered Institute of Administrators as well as Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, among other professional bodies.
He is married with children.
