The man, Umar Ahmed Farouk new NAMA boss

 

Umar Ahmed Farouk is the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He is a multitalented, resourceful aviation industry professional with vast aviation expertise.

His industry experience and pedigree acquired in more than 25 years of versatile work exposure, crisscrosses the aviation industry in Nigeria, the UK, Europe, and other continents the UK, Europe and Nigeria gives him hands-on operational, management, and top executive levels.

Umar Ahmed Farouk has strategically grown his career pathway through the core aviation units of aeronautical engineering and one who is well-rounded and grounded in the business of air transportation.

The Kebbi-born aviator was appointed Executive Director, of Safety Electronics and Engineering in 2016 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Farouk as he is fondly called, was born in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State on January 18, 1964, and attended Government Science Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi.

He started his education at the Sokoto State Polytechnic, Sokoto, and earned a National Diploma and a Higher National Diploma in 1985 and 1988 respectively.

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He later attended Federal University of Technology, Minna where he bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

His quest for higher education saw him at the Lagos State University (LASU) where he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1999.

He later bagged another Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy in 2009 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Farouk joined NAMA in 2002 as a Chief Engineer. Since then, he has held several managerial and strategic positions in the agency such as Airspace Manager, Minna Airport General Manager, Procurement and General Manager, Special Projects, Kano Region.

Highly cerebral and a master of his profession, Engr. Farouk has played vital roles in the deployment of some of the critical navigational infrastructure in Nigeria such as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Kaduna International Airport, Doppler Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (DVOR) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport as well as the Stand – Alone High Powered Jotron Radios recently installed in Kano and Lagos Area Control Centres in the country.

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Umar is a member, of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (MCOREN); a member the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE); the member Chartered Institute of Administration (MCIA); and a member of the Chartered Institute of Supply, Purchase and Management.

In 2018, he was decorated with the fellowship award of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE).

In 2019, Buhari conferred Engr. Farouk with the prestigious honour of National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM)

The honour was in recognition of his contributions towards the improvement of communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) facilities to ensure safe and efficient traffic services in Nigerian airspace.

Using his engineering acumen, he put NAMA on the pedestal of being among one of the leading Air Navigation Service Providers in the world.

He ensured that the agency provided safe, efficient, effective, and economical air navigation service to airspace users through his engineering know-how, application of new technology, and dedication to duty.

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Before the appointment of Farouk Umar as DEES, personnel of the Directorate were bedeviled with the challenges that had a direct bearing on their productivity such as epileptic engineering training, inappropriate placement of staff nationwide, deficient acquisition of professional certification (ATSEP Licensing and Systems Rating).

Others are lack of implementation of approved air traffic safety engineering manual of operations and Standards operating procedures, and low morale of the entire NAMA staff.

He had received several commendations and awards for his numerous contributions to the smooth running of his agency; a key Federal Government parastatal and by extension, the Federal public service, where over the years, he had shown a high sense of loyalty, and due diligence unparalleled commitment to service and exemplary dedication to duty.

 

Wole Shadare

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