With a meritorious military career spanning over two decades, Air Vice Marshal, AVM, Edward Gabkwet is the Director of Public Relations for the Nigerian Air Force, NAF. The lightening had struck twice after he was reappointed on July 3, 2023 by the present Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar. This was after he had served in the same position from March 9, 2021 to January 6, 2023. Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the AVM, who recently gathered family and friends for a thanksgiving service in Abuja after he was promoted to the enviable rank of a two star general last December, has passionately and continuously increased public understanding of the role of the NAF when it comes to National Security and Air Power
In the military, departments and roles are as important as the other – whether infantry, music, catering, finance, operations, policy and planning, engineering, medical or even public relations, these roles are like a chain that cannot function without each other.
For the Public Relations arm, they occupy the all important job of engaging the media and the nation by communicating on-the-need to know information that builds the trust and confidence of the Nigerian public.
The image making, public relations and media management of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is currently headed by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Edward Gabkwet under the able leadership of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar.
Well versed in military, diplomacy, public relations and even management, AVM Gabkwet has been conscientious in increasing public understanding of the NAF’s role when it comes to Air Power, National Security and Development, albeit on the need-to-know basis.
For each crises the NAF encountered, he has gracefully maneuvered it without loosing his humanity. Not one to posture for social media adulation, AVM Gabkwet would rather work behind the scenes to project and shore up the image of the NAF.
Little wonder why the service deemed him fit to promote him to the enviable rank of an Air Vice Marshal (two star general). Recently, he gathered family and friends in Abuja to thank God for the honour.
Who is Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet?
Born on December 23, 1971 in Kaduna, Nigeria, AVM Gabkwet had his early education at Baptist Primary School, Jos South from 1977 to 1983 and thereafter proceeded to the prestigious Saint Joseph’s College, Vom, near Kuru in Jos South where he obtained his General Certificate of Education.
He then proceeded to study Veterinary Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Military Career, Appointments
Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet was
commissioned as an officer cadet of 42nd Regular Combatant Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy in August 1990. Gabkwet later graduated on August 16, 1996 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences and was subsequently commissioned as a Pilot Officer of the Nigerian Air Force.
He has held several appointments in the course of his military career. In 1998, he was the Group Public Relations Officer (GPRO) at Air Weapon School (Now 407 Air Combat Training Group), Kainji.
At various times, he served as the Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO) at Tactical Air Command Makurdi, Training Command, (Now Air Training Command), Kaduna as well as Logistics Command, Lagos.
Air Commodore Gabkwet was also a United Nations Military observer at the Democratic republic of Congo between 2004 and 2005 where he also acted as the Assistant spokesman attached to the Office of the Force Commander. He also served as the first press officer to the Chief of the Air Staff between 2010 and 2012.
As the Air Attaché, Edward was for two years, the secretary of the Africa and Middle East Defence Attaches in China, a socio-cultural group catering to the military interest of Africa and Middle Eastern Nations in China. In 2018, he was appointed as the Command Training officer at the Ground Training Command Enugu.
Until his appointment as the 17th Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), he was a member of Directing Staff and Director Coordination at the Air Force War College, Makurdi.
Gabkwet served as the DOPRI from March 9, 2021 to January 6, 2023. He was reappointed DOPRI on July 3, 2023 after serving as the Commander 551 NAF Station Jos, Plateau State. He was promoted to the enviable rank of an Air Vice Marshal last December.
CoursesBagged
Over the course of his sterling career, AVM Gabkwet has attended several courses some of which include, International Military Public Relations Course in Sweden, Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji as well as Strategic Public Relations and Crisis Management Courses at Pinnacle PR, London.
Additionally, he attended a Speech Writing Course organised by Ragan Communications at American University, Washington DC.
The AVM is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos State, where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations in 2008.
The AVM is also an alumnus of the National Defence University, Champing, China, Air Force War College, Nigeria and the National Defence College, Nigeria.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Decorations
The NAF spokesperson has been decorated with the Distinguished Service Star, Fellow Defence College, Fellow National Defence University, Fellow Air War College (+) and the United Nations Medal among others.
Family Life
He is married to Mrs. Patricia Jemcit Gabkwet, who is the MD/CEO of Maya Clothing and Apparel Company (a bespoke clothing and apparel company with skills to churn out school uniforms, ceremonial gowns, doctors/nurses wears, construction/factory workers wears, para-military uniform wears and lawyer gowns, as well as office outfits).
The AVM, whose union is blessed with three children, enjoys playing golf and badminton as well as watching documentaries.
