Iwalaye Retires From NAMA, Authors Books
Amidst pomp and pageantry, Mr. Sunday Iwalaye, the General Manager, Search and Rescue, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has bowed out of service after 32 years as an employee of the agency.
Iwalaye who joined the service of NAMA in 1993, rose through the ranks, posted to various airports and stations and took up critical challenges in the organization until he clocked 60 years and had to bow out of service.
Iwalaye was treated to a three-in-one fête: his retirement from service, the launch of three books and birthday celebration.
The books, participants said, would be useful to new entrants and existing aviation professionals to deepen their knowledge about the industry. In all, Iwalaye has published eight books in the last eight years, according to him.
Numerous dignitaries, including friends, colleagues and family members poured out in large numbers to celebrate the auspicious moment with Iwalaye and paid glowing tributes to his hard work, dedication and humane character.
Among the many tributes poured on him, was the encomium from Engr. Farouk Umar, the Managing Director, NAMA, who described him as a good, competent professional and a family man.
Umar who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Johnny Ogegere, General Manager, NAMA, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, enjoined everyone at the ceremony to emulate his dedication to duties.
Ogegere who said he was enrolled into the system the same year as Iwalaye, described Iwalaye as a thoroughbred and a warm professional who had put more in the system than he gained.
He said: “Iwalaye is a trained search and rescue professional who has performed exemplarily well and he got to the top of his profession by becoming a General Manager. I want to believe that the doors of the management of NAMA are always open to him.”
Also, Mr. Sola Dada, a NAMA staff, said Iwalaye has impacted the system positively especially with his published books on aviation.
He said: “It is a great honour to mark Iwalaye’s birthday and retirement with impactful publications.
“The books are a celebration of knowledge and his books stand as a lasting solution to air travel, not just in Nigeria, but globally.”
In his comment, Iwalaye, expressed delight at the encomiums poured on him by the different dignitaries that attended the occasion.
He appreciated the NAMA management, especially its Managing Director and Mr. John Tayo, its Director of Operations and other directors, for taking proactive steps to sustain safety in the sector. He also said that the agency paid all the expenses for the publication of the three books.
Iwalaye also expressed delight at reaching age 60 despite the growing challenges. He said: “I feel excited, I can’t really express my joy today. Reaching 60 years and 32 years in service and in a profession like an Air Traffic Control (ATC), which went hitch-free, deserves a lot of glory to God.
“From inception, I never knew anything about ATC until I got to Jos around 1992 and saw an advert in a newspaper for that position. What really enticed me was that after employment, the successful candidates would be trained in Spain. It took the opportunity and here I am today.
“The journey has been smooth so far to the glory of God. He has given me good and understanding professional colleagues. I also give all the kudos to the management and staff of NAMA for bringing me this far and for giving me the grace to actualize my dream.”
The highpoint of the celebration was the launching of the three books: ‘A Hand Book on Aeronautical Search & Rescue’, and ‘A Brief Note (3) on Area Airways Non-Radar Control: Non-Radar Separation: Enroute & Terminal.
