…AS 302 PERSONNEL GRADUATE
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has praised the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) for remaining a model of discipline, academic integrity, and technological advancement in Nigeria.
He explained that AFIT stands tall as one of the most sought-after institutions of higher learning in Nigeria, a reputation built on academic excellence, strict discipline, zero tolerance for strikes, and adherence to the principle of federal character.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour during its graduation on Wednesday, 10th September, 2025 in Kaduna, the CAS emphasized that “These values have firmly established it as a rallying point for technological advancement and a pillar of our national defence architecture.”
During the graduation, personnel of 302 – officers, airmen, and airwomen – graduated from AFIT, a school with sundry military courses.
According to the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore, Ehimen Ejodame said in a statement that for nearly five decades, the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has faithfully fulfilled its mandate as the premier source of technical manpower for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), while steadily evolving into a multidisciplinary academic and research centre of excellence.
He observed that its enduring impact is evident in the production of highly skilled professionals, pioneering research, and innovative solutions that have enhanced aircraft maintenance, improved operational readiness, and advanced Nigeria’s quest for self-reliance in airpower employment.
While highlighting AFIT’s growing role in national development, Air Marshal Abubakar cited the establishment of the NASENI North-West Technology Innovation Hub on its premises as a bold step toward advancing Nigeria’s technological sovereignty.
He also noted AFIT’s recent tuition-free training of personnel from the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport for the Army Aviation Wing, he described it as evidence of inter-service cooperation and AFIT’s expanding influence across the Armed Forces.
Addressing the graduands, the CAS charged them to take ownership of Nigeria’s new-generation aircraft. “You are now the custodians of these platforms, entrusted with their safety, airworthiness, and mission readiness.
He further urged the graduands to remain disciplined, embrace continuous learning, and uphold the NAF’s core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence.
“By living up to these ideals, you will not only help defeat terrorism and insurgency but also make our beloved country a bastion of peace, progress, and sustainable development,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Commandant of AFIT, Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe, expressed profound appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff for his unwavering support to the Institute.
He noted that under the current leadership, AFIT has witnessed remarkable growth in infrastructure, training programmes, and research initiatives, all of which continue to elevate its status as a centre of excellence. He assured that the Institute remains committed to producing disciplined, highly skilled professionals and driving innovations that would further enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force and contribute to national development.
The CAS acknowledged that as a student of AFIT during his days as a young officer, where he emerged the best graduating student in the Officer Engineering Course of 1992 and best graduating student in the Aeromechanical Department, he praised the graduates for keeping a high standards of academic discipline.
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