…As Rear Admiral Nwatu Holds Sway in NAVTRAC
Chiemelie Ezeobi
Across board, the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) is saddled with the primary responsibility of meeting the professional manpower needs of the Nigerian Navy (NN).
Mindful of this role, the navy hierarchy always deploys astute flag officers commanding (FOC) to man the command in order to steer its affairs in identifying key requirements to make its professional trainings meet current NN operational realities and needs.
Just last week Tuesday, there was a change of baton at NAVTRAC as the former FOC, Rear Admiral Monday Unurhiere, handed over headship of the command to Rear Admiral Patrick Nwatu.
The occasion was heralded by a ceremonial parade, which saw officers and men of the command assemble at the parade ground of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra, Apapa, before the handing and taking over proper at NAVTRAC conference room.
Rear Admiral Patrick Chibueze Nwatu was born in Enugu and attended Command Secondary School Jos from 1981 to 1986 before his admission into Nigerian Defence Academy in 1988.
On successful completion of training at the Academy, he was granted Presidential Commission into the Nigerian Navy as a Sub Lieutenant on 10 September 1993. He has served in various capacities on board several ships in the Nigerian Navy.
He also served as an instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna and as a Member of Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji before his appointment to NHQ as the Assistant Director Records in 2010. He also served in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon in 2013 as Nigeria’s Defence Adviser with accreditation to cover other countries in Central Africa.
After a successful tour of duty, he returned to the country in April 2016 and was appointed the Assistant Director Transformation at the Naval Headquarters. He remained at the Headquarters until his nomination to the National Defence College Abuja, as a member of Course 25.
He equally served as Principal Staff Officer to Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Headquarters after which he was appointment as Deputy Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji in March 2021.
Having completed his tour of duty in Jaji he would return to NHQ as the Director of Policy where he remained until his current appointment to the Naval Training Command as the Flag Officer Commanding.
The senior specialist Navigator has attended several military and civil courses including the Officers Long Navigation Course at the Nigerian Navy Ship QUORRA and the Amphibious Staff Operations Course at the Amphibious Training School Calabar.
Others are the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji as well as the National Defence Couse. After a First Degree in Mathematics, he later gained a Masters Degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and another Masters Degree in Shipping and Maritime Transport from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
The senior military officer also had a Master of Philosophy (M.PHIL) in Security and Strategic Studies at the National Defence College, Kaduna.
Rear Admiral PC Nwatu is decorated with the national honours of the Superior Knight of the National Order of Valour of the Republic of Cameroon as well as the Distinguished Service Star (DSS), General Service Star (GSS), Meritorious Service Star (MSS) and the Forces Service Star (FSS) of Nigeria.
He is a Fellow of the Defence College of Nigeria (fdc) and also awarded the Passed Staff College Dagger (psc+) from the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management (FCIPDM) and a subject matter expert on Nigeria-Cameroon trans border relations.
The senior officer is married to Mrs Adarema Nwatu and the union is blessed with five children, four boys and one girl. He enjoys reading and swimming at his leisure.
