Abuja – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday said the Czech Republic had offered a post graduate scholarship to the wife of late Wing Cdr. Chinda Hedima to study Epidemiology at the Czech Defence University, Prague.
This is contained in a statement signed by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information,Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, in Abuja.
The statement said that the scholarship was offered to the woman in the spirit of the existing cordial relationship between the Czech Republic and NAF.
“Late Hedima was killed in September 2014 by Boko Haram insurgents while on operation in the North-East.
“ The senior officer, before his demise, had his combat simulator training on the Alpha Jet with Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic,’’ it said.
According to the statement, the full scholarship award to Dr Hedima was in recognition of the ultimate sacrifice by her husband in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.
Presenting the award, the Czech Republic Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Tomas Kuchta, said that the gesture was an extension of the friendship between Czech Republic and Nigeria.
The statement added that the award was also in recognition of the gallantry exhibited by the late senior officer in the service of his fatherland.
Kuchta, however, recalled that late Wing Cdr. Hedima put up good performance and was disciplined and friendly during his training in the Czech Republic.
He also used the occasion to extend the condolence of the Czech Ministry of Defence to the people of Nigeria over the great loss.
In his response, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the Czech gesture was the first of its kind witnessed by NAF.
Abubakar described the late Wing Cdr. Hedima as a brave and hardworking officer who lived a short but very successful life.
The CAS described Hedima’s death as noble for laying down his life for a just cause in the defence of humanity.
He further commended the Czech Republic for the gesture and said that NAF would continue to celebrate its fallen heroes.
“The gesture by the Czech Republic will go a long way in encouraging other NAF personnel to put in their very best in the service to the Nation,’’ he said. (NAN)
