It was a moment of joy and excitement for officers and men at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja penultimate Thursday, when news filtered in that one of their prized officers, Air Vice Marshal Sesan Isaac Awofodu, had made the list of recipients of 2008 national honours released by the federal government.

Awofodu, who has given more than three decades of uninterrupted service to the Nigerian Air Force and currently serves as air officer, Administration at the Air Force headquarters, has been named as one of the distinguished Nigerians that will be decorated early this year with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by President Umaru Yar'Adua. The honour is predicated on Awofodu's exceptional commitment and sterling service to his fatherland since 1975 when he was commissioned a pilot officer after his military training course at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

He holds a masters degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and is largely described as an officer of high integrity in the last three decades. He has been an asset of sorts to the nation's security system, rendering quite a great deal of invaluable service to the upliftment of the Nigerian Air Force and partnering with other committed officers, with a view to achieving a strong defence system in the nation's air space.

Independent investigations revealed how this top Air Force officer has worked assiduously towards attaining for the nation, a virile air force that can compete favourably at the global level.

Without mincing words, the fact remains that it takes a man with a positive mindset and sheer determination like Awofodu to tread a path of thistles, which feeble-minded characters consider a no-go area. And this obviously explains the achievement of his numerous feats, even in the face of apparent professional hazards in the course of his patriotic service to his fatherland.

Consistently, he has done the nation proud by sheer dint of hard work, bringing succour, confidence, ethical compliance and the much desired peace through his service, not only to Nigeria, but to other countries on the African continent. Though not one to draw attention to himself, his indelible imprints and unbridled passion for service will continue to draw attention to him and make him a point of reference. Awofodu is humble to a fault.

"The national honour to me is a call to further intensify my commitment in the service of my country. I see it as a challenge to be more hardworking and remain focused. It demands from me greater sacrifice to the nation. It lends credence to the fact that I have to commit additional hours to my job. I must also emphasise the leadership quality of the incumbent Chief of Air Staff who, through diligence, hard work and passion for ethical compliance has been able to take the nation's Air Force to the next level, by ensuring a conducive atmosphere, which enhances our high productivity in all spheres of the nation's Air Force. His exemplary leadership has obviously been serving as a key to all our attainments since he took over the baton of leadership," Awofodu was quoted as saying, shortly after the cheering news of his national honour was made public.

It's on record that Air Vice Marshal Awofodu, who started his flying career as a cadet in 1974 and was in the cockpit through the ranks up till the rank of air vice marshal, has done more than 7,800 flying hours with 12 different types of aircraft, including the Piaggio, 149D, the Bulldog S-103, Cessna T-41 and T-37, D-55, Dornier 28 D1/D2 and C-130H.

More than 150 times, Awofodu has, in the course of his career, flown different aircraft, ferrying relief materials and other needs to support ECOMOG and OAU missions in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Sudan between 1990 and 2006.

He has held several appointments including: squadron pilot in 303 Flying Training School, Kano and 301 Flying Training School Kaduna; pilot, squadron commander, instructor pilot, commanding officer and group operations officer at 88 Military Airlift Group, Ikeja; directing staff at Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna.

He equally served as director of safety at the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, and as liaison officer in Military Professional Resources Incorporated, between 2001 and 2003. He then went back to flying in 2002 as instructor pilot on the C-130H aircraft at 88 Military Airlift Group and later commanded the unit. Thereafter, he joined the headquarters of Nigerian Air Force as air officer, Inspections.

One striking thing about Awofodu right from day one, is the fact that he left no one in doubt about his efficiency and strong character as a promising young cadet. His impressive academic record, we're told, still remains a point of reference in the numerous Air Force institutions he attended as a young officer, at home and abroad.

Some of the courses he attended include: primary flying training course at the then Primary Flying Training Wing, Kaduna; undergraduate pilot training at Kaduna Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas and Williams Air Force Base, Phoenix, Arizona, USA; flying training course at College 2 Air Training, CIK; C-130 aircraft conversion course at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, USA. He also attended the Command and Staff Course at Maxwell Air Force Base Alabama, USA and the National War College Course in Abuja.

Awofodu, a father of five -- 3 girls and 2 boys-had, prior to his national honour, been decorated with awards of Force Services Star and Meritorious Service Star and PSC(+). He is a fellow of the National War College.

Born on 7th July 1952 in Sagamu, Ogun State, the handsome Air Force officer started his education at St Paul's Primary School, Offin, Sagamu before proceeding to May-flower Secondary School, Ikenne where he rounded off his secondary school education in 1969.

In the quest to broaden his education, he also attended the College of Agriculture, Akure from 1970 to July 1972, where he obtained a National Diploma in Agricultural Science, before joining the Nigerian Air Force in January 1973.