Former Chief of Air Staff and one-time Aviation Minister, Nsikak Eduok is dead.
Eduok died on Wednesday 6th January at the age of 74 after a long battle with kidney complications.
Secretary to Akwa Ibom State, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem announced the death of Nsikak Eduok in a release on Thursday, quoting medical doctors as saying that he died of “end-stage kidney failure.”
Nsikak Eduok after his education worked briefly as studio manager for Voice of Nigeria; enrolled for a probable pilot course at the Nigeria Air Force in 1968.
Air Marshal Nsikak Eduok obtained his first military exercise from the Nigerian Defence Academy before going for his principal flying training in 1970.
In 1971 after completing his principal training he went through the basic flying training course and emerged the best overall student.
In that same year, he was assigned the second lieutenant.
Between 1971 and 1986 he attended several flying courses which included Advanced and Tactical Flying training course, Aircraft Accident Investigation course, MiG-21 Conversion Course in the Soviet Union, Advanced Staff Course in the United Kingdom.
In 1991, he attended USAF Air War College in Alabama and graduated in 1992.
Between 1975 and 1976, Nsikak Eduok was the first Operations Officer of the Makurdi Strike Group.
He was Commanding Officer of NAF Station, Enugu and the first Commander of the 75th Fighter Squadron.
Late Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok won National, Defence, Independence and Republic Medals including, Distinguished Service Star and the Meritorious Service Star.
Nsikak Eduok was enlisted into the Nigeria Air Force in 1968 and became the 12th Chief of Army Staff on August 27, 1993, an appointment that was reversed a week later by the then military government.
He was reappointed Chief of Air Staff on March 30, 1996, by General Sani Abacha.
