US Air University Inducts Chief Of The Air Staff Into International Honor Roll Class Of 2026

The Department of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, United States, has honoured the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, with induction into the International Honor Roll (IHR) Class of 2026, a prestigious recognition reserved for distinguished global air power leaders.

Air Marshal Aneke, who attended the Air War College at Air University in 2016 as a member of Seminar 7, was formally inducted on 10 April 2026 alongside 15 other Air Chiefs and 2 Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) equivalents from across the world, further projecting Nigeria’s growing stature in international military leadership and strategic air power diplomacy.

The ceremony was specially designed to recognise senior Air Force officers who, having passed through the Air War College, have risen to the pinnacle of their professional careers as Air Chiefs and CMSAF equivalents in their respective countries.

As part of the prestigious programme, the participants were received by Governor Kay Ivey at the Governor’s Mansion before proceeding on a series of heritage and institutional visits to the Alabama Supreme Court in Montgomery, the Air University Library, the Enlisted Heritage Museum, Maxwell Club, the Air War College, as well as the SNCO Academy at Gunter Annex. The engagements highlighted the enduring values of professional military education, strategic leadership, and the deep bonds shared among alumni of one of the world’s foremost centres of air power excellence.

Air Marshal Aneke was accompanied on the occasion by the NAFOWA National President, Mrs Ngozi Aneke, the Defence Attaché, and other Nigerians resident in the United States, underscoring the significance of the honour to both the Nigerian Air Force and the nation at large.

US Air University Inducts Chief Of The Air Staff

The high point of the event was the presentation of the International Alumni certificates by Lieutenant General Trulley, symbolising the institution’s recognition of the CAS’s exemplary career trajectory, strategic leadership, and contributions to advancing air power in Nigeria and beyond.

The induction further reinforces the Nigerian Air Force’s reputation for producing globally respected leaders committed to excellence, innovation, and international defence cooperation.

She-Fix 2.0: NNPC Retail Champions Inclusion, Impact, Opportunities For Women

She-Fix 2.0: NNPC retail champions inclusion, impact, opportunities for women in his remarks, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited,
Andy Odeh, said women in today’s energy sector are leading change,
building institutions, and shaping the narrative of an industry already in
transition.

He reiterated that when women lead, value follows, and when
value follows, organisations grow and society prospers.
In its bid to advance inclusion, celebrate female excellence, and strengthen
women’s participation across technical and professional sectors, the NNPC Retail Limited (NNPC Retail), a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd., hosted the
second edition of She-Fix 2.0, its flagship, women-focused initiative, in Abuja, on Saturday.

The event, held under the theme “Driving Diversity, Powering Progress”, was
attended by over 300 women professionals, business owners, young
technicians, and energy industry leaders.

In her address, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim,
who described inclusion as central to national growth, called for more
opportunities for women in technical and STEM-related fields.

While commending NNPC Retail for its vision in establishing the initiative,
the Minister called for sustained collaboration between government and the
corporate sector to scale the programme further.

In her keynote address, Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC
Limited, Sophia Mbakwe, noted that women’s contribution within NNPC
Ltd. permeates every level, stressing that NNPC Retail, the company’s daily
point of contact with ordinary Nigerians, is a space where diversity holds
significant weight.
Managing Director of NNPC Retail Limited, Huub Stokman, who was
represented by Valentina Kojo, Executive Director, Finance, NNPC Retail,
stressed that women empowerment must be practical, visible, and
sustainable.

Highlights of the She Fix 2.0 initiative include a panel session, live car care
demonstrations, a marketplace showcasing female-led businesses,
interactive sessions, networking activities, and special discounts on Oleum
Lubricants and NR-GAS LPG products, reaffirming NNPC Retail’s
commitment to gender equity and inclusion across every part of the energy
value chain.

The panel featured five senior women from across energy, finance,
technology, and corporate governance namely: Emmanuella Arukwe,
Managing Director, NNPC Foundation; Maryamu Idris, Managing Director,
NNPC Trading Limited and OPEC National Representative for Nigeria;
Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Officer, Interswitch Limited; Toyin Alasi,
Founder and CEO, Money Wise International; and Adaeze Nwakoby, General
Manager, Governance, Risk & Compliance, NNPC Retail Limited.

NNPC

The She-Fix 2.0 initiative builds upon the momentum of the 2025 edition
held in Lagos. It symbolises a deliberate expansion of the programme’s
reach and reaffirming NNPC Retail’s commitment to growing a platform
which produces lasting outcomes for women across the nation’ energy
sector.

Andy Odeh
Chief Corporate Communications Officer
NNPC Ltd.

Troops “OPWS” Rescue Abducted Benue Bus Passengers, Including UTME Candidates

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have rescued 13 passengers abducted from a Benue Links commercial bus along the Makurdi–Otukpo road.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the victims were among 17 passengers kidnapped last Wednesday while travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo in Benue.

Three of the victims had earlier escaped from captivity.

Zagazola quoted security sources as saying the rescue mission was achieved on Sunday during a sustained search-and-rescue operation in a forest in Okete ward, Ohimini LGA of the state.

Advertisement
Some students travelling for the 2026 unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) were reportedly part of the abducted victims.

“Security sources further clarified that the perpetrators were local criminal elements in Benue and not Fulani bandits as initially speculated in some quarters. The attack was however, hastily attributed to external groups without proper verification,” the publication said.

Those rescued include Hycent Oko (56), Elaiguli Joshua (25), Orili Raphael (29), Sunday Augustine (18), Emmanuel Elaicha (21), Gbile Nguyor Daniel (18), Ukacha Tersoo (18), Nyikwagh Aoridakator (22), Iornav Ngukuhan (18), Nyikwagh Benjamin (18), Buker Agatha (19), Paul Wende (29) and Akor Jessica (19).

“The operation was carried out professionally, leading to the safe recovery of 13 victims. Preliminary findings indicate that the perpetrators are criminal elements from within the state and not external armed groups as widely speculated,” the publication quoted security sources as saying.

Zagazola added that the victims were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Otukpo, where they are currently receiving medical attention, noting that some of them sustained varying degrees of injuries during their captivity.

OPWS

“Further checks revealed that eight of the rescued passengers were students en route to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations at the time they were abducted, a development that underscores the disruptive impact of criminal activities on education and civil life,” the publication said.

However, both the Benue state police command and JAMB have denied that any of the abducted passengers were UTME candidates.