The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has restated the commitment of the current Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Administration to human capacity development for enhanced professional performance. This, he said, was to ensure that NAF personnel possess the requisite knowledge and skill sets to effectively support NAF operations. The CAS made this known today, 21 September 2020, at the graduation ceremony of 435 personnel of Initial Officers’ and Basic Airmen/Airwomen Sundry Military Courses, comprising 75 officers and 360 airmen/airwomen, at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna. Today’s occasion also featured the commissioning of 2 blocks of female hostels constructed by the NAF Investment Limited (NAFIL) for students of AFIT.
Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that for over 40 years AFIT had consistently trained officers and airmen/airwomen who are performing creditably in supporting NAF operations as specialists in aircraft and armament engineering, works and services, supply management as well as Information and Communication Technology. The CAS expressed his satisfaction that AFIT was able to successfully complete the training of 760 personnel during the year, including the 435 graduating students, despite the COVID-19 Pandemic. He added that the technical and logistics management courses conducted by AFIT have helped tremendously to reduce dependence on expatriates and thus save foreign exchange for the Nation. “The execution of air operations in theatres across Nigeria, using solely Nigerian crews, engineers, technicians and controllers, is a testament of the success story of our capacity building initiatives,” the CAS said.
The CAS further noted that in the area of pilots’ training, 2 officers, including the first female fighter pilot, were about to conclude their tactical training on the Alpha Jet aircraft, while 29 officers of Student Pilots’ Course 46 (SP 46) recently completed their ab-initio pilot training.
