Meet Major General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd.), Executive Director, Finance and Administration, of the NDDC

Major General Charles Airhiavbere has an undisputed record of service to the nation and the people. He stands tall and impeccable in an institution known for its discipline, professional integrity, and adeptness at shaping officers and men of character.

A native of Ekiadolor, Benin City, in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Major General Airhiavbere was born on October 11, 1954, to parents who raised the bar in education and prioritized the exploration of talent in their children and youths. He was, therefore, determined to arm himself with a quality education while refining his passion for service.

Consequently, when many young men and women like him were more concerned with landing enriching jobs in boards and industries, Major General Airhiavbere chose instead to serve the country by joining the Nigerian Army, where he contributed three decades of excellence, commitment to the nation and professional service to Nigerians.

He began his formal education at St. Peter’s Anglican School, Benin City, where he obtained the Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1967. He proceeded to the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, graduating in 1973 with the West African School Certificate (WASC), and to the Auchi Polytechnic, where he obtained the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy in 1980.

After that, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, for the Direct Short Service Course 7, emerging with the prestigious award of the Best All-Round Cadet. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in seniority on June 1, 1980, and was posted to the Nigerian Army Finance Corps. His professional competence shone through in the Nigerian Army Finance Corps, enabling him to build a distinguished career.

A man of compelling hunger for knowledge and an unwavering desire to constantly improve his capacity, Major General Airhiavbere did not rest on his oars. He also obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Finance from the University of Ibadan in 1987. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Management Science (DMSc), by Wellspring University, Benin City, Edo State, in 2021.

By 1987 his competence and commitment had caught the attention of military commanders and his superiors as a man molded for and headed to great things. It, therefore, came as little surprise that at different points of his career in the Nigerian army, he bagged several awards for his brilliance, character, mindfulness, and incorruptibility. In all the years he spent managing the finance of the Nigerian Army, Major General Airhiavbere was never found wanting.

Major General Charles Airhiavbere is a member of several professional bodies. In his over three decades of service in the Nigerian Army, he attended the following professional Courses and Seminars in Nigeria and abroad:

1.???Young Officers Course in Finance;

2.???Leadership Seminar for top executives in Manchester Business School, Manchester University, United Kingdom and

3.???National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.

He has many medals and epaulets to his honour. And as Executive Director, Finance of the NDDC, he embodies the values and virtues needed at the Commission to build a system of integrity, due process, financial discipline, and a workforce committed to ensuring the core mandate of facilitating sustainable regional development is finally realized.