NAMA Director, Farouk Umar Bags National Productivity Order of Merit

In recognition of his immense contributions towards the improvement of
Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) facilities to ensure
safe and efficient air traffic services in the Nigerian airspace,
President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the National Productivity
Order of Merit (NPOM) Award on the Director of Safety Electronics and
Engineering Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA),
Engr. Farouk Ahmed Umar.
 Engr. Farouk on Thursday made the list of 25 notable Nigerians and 7
organizations who received the prestigious award at the NAF Conference
Centre, Abuja at the 18th National Productivity Day Celebration and
Conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit Award with the
theme: Productivity for National Re-engineering, Security and Growth,
organized by the National Productivity Centre, Abuja.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss
Mustapha, President Muhammadu Buhari said his administration was
committed to the promotion of the ideals of a productive nation, given
the significant role of productivity in wealth creation, employment
generation, social progress and improved standard of living hence the
need to entrench the culture of productivity and excellence in the
psyche of all Nigerians. He tasked the awardees redouble their efforts
towards making Nigeria a better and more productive country.
In his remarks after receiving the award, Engr. Farouk said the
recognition by the President would galvanize him to work harder for
the development of the nation, even as he expressed optimism that
Nigeria was on the right trajectory towards growth and development
given the efforts of the present administration. He advised Nigerians,
particularly his colleagues at NAMA to imbibe the virtues of hard
work, perseverance and dedication to duty, saying that “the lesson of
this recognition is that hard work pays, and would surely be rewarded
in the fullness of time.”
Engr. Farouk attended Government Science Secondary School, Birnin
Kebbi and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, from where he
bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later
enrolled at the Lagos State University (LASU) where he obtained a
Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1999. He also
bagged another Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy
from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira in 2009.
A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Chartered
Institute of Administration, Farouk was in 2018 also conferred with
the fellowship of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers
(NIMechE). He has served NAMA in various sensitive capacities
including Airspace Manager, Minna airport and General Manager, Special
Projects. In 2016, he rose to the position of substantive Director,
Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES), a position he
occupies to date.
According to the citation by the National Productivity Centre,
Farouk’s recognition by the President came on the heels the
installation of critical navigational aids like the Instrument Landing
System (ILS) and Doppler Very High Omni-Directional Radio Range (DVOR)
in some strategic airports in the country which he spearheaded, adding
that the he has shown commitment towards ensuring that NAMA attained
its statutory mandate through his engineering know-how and application
of new technology based on best practices and international standards.
Engr. Farouk who is registered with the council for the Regulation of
Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is also a member of the National Air
Traffic Engineers (NAAE), Chartered Institute of Administrators as
well as Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, among other
professional bodies. He is married with children.