Aviation industry in Nigeria stood still on Friday in honour of one of its best, Mrs Henrietta Vathiri Yakubu, who retired from the service of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) as the General Manager, Corporate Affairs.
Yakubu who became the first female General Manager, Public Affairs of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), successfully retired from the aviation agency, after 35 years of meritorious service.
She was bequeathed a grand reception befittiting of her status not because she was the first female to hold the very sensitive position of image laundering for FAAN, but the manner with which she handled the material and human capital resources at her disposal without leaving any gap open.
Speaking at the well attended grand send forth reception held in honour of Yakubu by the staff of FAAN at the Lagos office of the Aviation agency on Friday, Managing Director/CE of FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu eloquently eulogized the good virtues Mrs Yakubu, stating that FAAN will miss her worthy contributions to the Authority.
Yadudu who described Yakubu as a reliable and dedicated personality, said the outgone image maker of FAAN was never found wanting in her duties.
He said, “I wish her all the best. She was very reliable and dedicated in the discharge of her duties. She never lacked in her duties. She has never been found wanting”.
The FAAN boss appreciated Yakubu for being able to work very diligently even without supervision, throughout her stay in the agency.
Also praising Mrs Yakubu for her meritorious service to FAAN, former Managing Director of FAAN, Engr Saleh Dunoma affirmed that she performed very excellently.
“I started realising her potential when she came to Abuja. She has put in a lot of efforts. She has done very excellently. I pray that she gets another appointment to enable contribute more to the country”.
Also speaking, director of airport operations, Captain Muhktar Muye, described her as an amazon, excellent and a very proactive staff.
To him, Mrs. Yakubu carried all her subordinates along in the course of discharging her duties, adding that she was truly the face of FAAN.
‘’I call her the face of FAAN, because she is an amazon, she is dedicated and never ignore her calls, she makes her subordinates so proactive’’, he said.
Director, Commercial and Business Development, Sadiku Rafindadadi , said she is the channel through which FAAN speaks and a mentor who is always on top of her job.
‘’She is always up and doing, it was a time well spent at FAAN, we will always get back to her because she is not tired’’.
Director of Human Resource & Administrations, Mr. Norris Anozie , described her as a very dedicated and very wonderful woman, saying it is difficult to part with her.
Basil Agboarumi, managing director Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO), prayed she reaps the ‘good seeds she had sown in the aviation sector’, as she bows out of service.
In her response, Yakubu thanked everyone that attended the send off ceremony. She equally thanked FAAN staff for their support, stating that without their support, she wouldn’t have been able to succeed.
She said “I was made GM, not because I was the best but because of the grace of God”.
“I thank God for sustaining me. I couldn’t have made it without God. I have enjoyed his gratefulness. I thank all the airport managers, directors and other staff for helping me do the job. Without the cooperation of the MD, FAAN, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. I am so grateful”, she said.
The event was well attended by staff of FAAN and dignitaries including General Manager, Public Affairs, AIB-N,Mr Tunji Oketunbi. There were also General Managers, Deputy General Managers among others.
Mrs Yakubu from Taraba State, a 1981 Sociology graduate of Bayero University, Kano, joined Nigeria Airports Authority (NAA), now Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in 1987.
She rose through the ranks and became the first female General Manager, Public Affairs. Before then, she had head the public Affairs unit in Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, from 1999 to 2011.
She has also worked in Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) from 2011 to 2016 after playing the role of Acting Manager, NAIA between 2015 to 2016.
She has won many awards to her credit, among which is the Ambassador of Christ.
