The inspiring Story of Air Vice Marshal R.K Shittu.
The rank of Air Vice Marshal is one of the highest attainable in the Nigerian Air Force. It is equivalent to a Major General in the Army. Attaining this height comes with a lots of hard work, dedication and commitment. The rank is not easy to come by, as we can count the numbers of Air Vice Marshals we have in the Nigerian Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal R.K Shittu is perhaps, the first and the only Okeho indigene to have reach this height in the history of the Nigerian Air Force.
Little wonder the whole of Okeho community went into jubilation when his promotion to the rank of AVM was announced.
AVM R.K Shittu was born some decades ago to the family of late Pa Shittu Tiamiyu Ojeleye of Onimia compound, Oke Ogun, Okeho. He had his primary school education at L.A Primary School Alaapa, Okeho and later proceeded to Okeho Iganna Grammar School (OIGS) Okeho, where he was an exemplary student and was made the School Senior Prefect in 1983.
With his brilliance, dedication and patriotism to his country, young R.K Shittu decided to join the Nigerian Air Force in 1985. He was admitted into the Air Force Maintenance School and his brilliance earned him the “Command Award” of his set. In 1987 he was admitted into the Nigerian Defense Academy ( NDA) and graduated in 1992 as a Pilot Officer. A dedicated and disciplined officer, R.K Shittu rose through the ranks to become an Air Vice Marshal.
His sojourn has seen him serving meritoriously in various departments of the Nigerian Air Force, including NAFIL. He is currently the Defence Adviser at the Nigeria High Commission in Malaysia.
To most of his secondary schoolmates, especially the 83 set at OIGS, his rise in the Air Force is not a surprise to them -because right from his high school days, he has always displayed many leadership qualities and discipline required of a successful officer.
Becoming a senior prefect in Okeho Iganna Grammar School in those days (and up till date) is not a mere feat. OIGS is one of the first generation secondary schools in OkeOgun (and Oyo State) established in 1965. The school has produced many great individuals who reached the peak of their career.
The story of AVM Shittu is yet another great motivation and challenge to the current students of the school and other schools in the community. It’s a confirmation of the belief that it doesn’t matter your humble beginning, the top is available for anybody with determination, dedication and discipline.
In the case of Air Vice Marshal R.K Shittu, it is an inspiring story of a determined young Okeho don who rose from being a Senior Prefect at Okeho Iganna Grammar School, Okeho to become an Air Vice Marshal of the Nigerian Air Force.
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