Jonah Wuyep
Encyclopedia
Air Marshal
Jonah Domfa Wuyep (born 23 November 1948) is a former Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force
. As an air force pilot he primarily flew the C-130 Hercules
transport aircraft.
area of what was British administered Nigeria
. He attended the Native Authority Primary School in Shendam
from 1959 to 1964 and then the Government Teachers College Toro in north-eastern Nigeria from 1966 to 1969.
Nigeria and gained his wings
after training with the United States Air Force
at Vance Air Force Base
. As a trained pilot, Wuyep flew both jet and transport aircraft although most of his flying career was spent on the C-130 Hercules. This included airlift operations in Eastern and Southern Africa in support of the independence movements in Mozambique
, Zimbabwe
and Namibia
as well as missions in support of the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Lebanon
. In 1980, Wuyep attended the Junior Command and Staff College in Pakistan
and from 1983 to 1984 he undertook the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
.
By 1994, Wuyep had been promoted to Group Captain
and was appointed the Commander of 301 Flying Training School in Kaduna. He was then successively appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer at Tactical Air Command's headquarters, the Director of Operations and Air Officer Commanding Training Command. From June 2000 to April 2001, Wuyep served as Air Officer Operations.
In April 2001 Wuyep was made Chief of the Air Staff, the senior appointment in the Nigerian Air Force and he was promoted Air Marshal
on 1 October 2001. Following the Nigerian Air Force's receipt of a 3 million US dollars aid package in the form of American C-130 spare parts, Wuyep called for a yet closer relationship between the Nigerian Air Force and the United States Air Force. Wuyep acknowledged that development of the oil and gas in the Gulf of Guinea
could be mutually beneficial to both Nigeria and the United States
. Wuyep also expressing his hope that the former training program for Nigerian aircrew with the US Air Force would be restored. In May 2006, Wuyep was unexpectedly dismissed as Chief of the Air Staff by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Wuyep was succeeded by Air Marshal Paul Dike
.
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Jonah Domfa Wuyep (born 23 November 1948) is a former Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force
Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years...
. As an air force pilot he primarily flew the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transport aircraft.
Early life
Wuyep was born on 23 November 1948 in Pil-Gani which is in the LangtangLangtang, Nigeria
Langtang is a town in Plateau State, Nigeria. The town is connected to Shendam, Kanam and Wase through paved roads. It has the local government secretariat situated at the heart of the town...
area of what was British administered Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He attended the Native Authority Primary School in Shendam
Shendam
Shendam is a Local Government Area in Plateau State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Shendam at.It has an area of 2,477 km² and a population of 208,017 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 940....
from 1959 to 1964 and then the Government Teachers College Toro in north-eastern Nigeria from 1966 to 1969.
Air force career
Wuyep entered the Nigerian military as an officer cadet in 1970 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force in 1973. Wuyep completed his primary flying training in KadunaKaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
Nigeria and gained his wings
Aircrew brevet
An aircrew brevet is the badge worn on the left breast, above any medal ribbons, by qualified aircrew in the Royal Air Force, British Army, Indian Air Force, Canadian Forces, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, South African Air Force and Sri Lanka Air...
after training with the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
at Vance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base
Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located 6 km south of downtown Enid, Oklahoma, and within its city limits, about north northwest of Oklahoma City...
. As a trained pilot, Wuyep flew both jet and transport aircraft although most of his flying career was spent on the C-130 Hercules. This included airlift operations in Eastern and Southern Africa in support of the independence movements in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
as well as missions in support of the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Lebanon
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, was created by the United Nations, with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 425 and 426 on 19 March 1978, to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon which Israel had invaded five days prior, restore international peace and security,...
. In 1980, Wuyep attended the Junior Command and Staff College in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and from 1983 to 1984 he undertook the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji
The Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji is a training facility for the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the army, air force and navy. It is near the village of Jaji, Nigeria, about 35 km northeast of Kaduna in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.-History:The Army...
.
By 1994, Wuyep had been promoted to Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
and was appointed the Commander of 301 Flying Training School in Kaduna. He was then successively appointed the Senior Air Staff Officer at Tactical Air Command's headquarters, the Director of Operations and Air Officer Commanding Training Command. From June 2000 to April 2001, Wuyep served as Air Officer Operations.
In April 2001 Wuyep was made Chief of the Air Staff, the senior appointment in the Nigerian Air Force and he was promoted Air Marshal
Air Marshal
Air marshal is a three-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
on 1 October 2001. Following the Nigerian Air Force's receipt of a 3 million US dollars aid package in the form of American C-130 spare parts, Wuyep called for a yet closer relationship between the Nigerian Air Force and the United States Air Force. Wuyep acknowledged that development of the oil and gas in the Gulf of Guinea
Gulf of Guinea
The Gulf of Guinea is the northeasternmost part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean between Cape Lopez in Gabon, north and west to Cape Palmas in Liberia. The intersection of the Equator and Prime Meridian is in the gulf....
could be mutually beneficial to both Nigeria and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Wuyep also expressing his hope that the former training program for Nigerian aircrew with the US Air Force would be restored. In May 2006, Wuyep was unexpectedly dismissed as Chief of the Air Staff by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Wuyep was succeeded by Air Marshal Paul Dike
Paul Dike
Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike was the Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 2006 to 2008. In August, 2008 he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff....
.