By Our Correspondent Kaduna
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, yesterday delivered a rallying charge to 302 newly graduated officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, urging them to take ownership of Nigeria’s frontline aircraft and ensure they remain combat-ready at all times.
“You are now the custodians of our new-generation platforms,” Abubakar declared at the colourful graduation ceremony. “The Service looks to you to apply your skills with precision, innovation, and dedication. Our assets must remain airworthy and mission-ready because Nigeria’s security depends on it.”
The ceremony marked yet another milestone in AFIT’s nearly five decades of service as the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) premier technical manpower training hub.
The CAS hailed the institution as a beacon of discipline and excellence, with a record of producing highly skilled professionals and driving innovations that have strengthened the country’s airpower capability.
“AFIT stands tall as one of the most sought-after institutions of higher learning in Nigeria,” he said. “Its culture of discipline, academic integrity, and zero tolerance for strikes has made it a rallying point for technological advancement and a pillar of national defence.”
Abubakar pointed to the establishment of the NASENI North-West Technology Innovation Hub within AFIT as a bold stride toward technological self-reliance, while also highlighting the Institute’s tuition-free training for Army Aviation personnel as evidence of growing inter-service cooperation.
He urged the graduands to uphold the Air Force’s core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence, stressing that their dedication would not only strengthen national defence but also help defeat terrorism and insurgency.
AFIT Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe, in his remarks, credited NAF leadership for unprecedented growth in infrastructure, training, and research at the Institute.
He assured that AFIT would continue to churn out disciplined, highly skilled professionals capable of advancing national security and development.
The event, attended by dignitaries, families, and defence stakeholders, also featured award presentations to outstanding graduands, with the CAS personally handing out prizes.
In a reflective moment, he recalled his own days as an AFIT student, where he graduated top of his class in 1992 a story that drew applause from the audience.
