By Samson Yaki
The Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna (AFIT) has entered into a memorandum of Understanding with over 30 Universities in the country in its quest to boost academic excellence of the Institute.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of 435 Personnel of the Institute in Kaduna today.
Abubakar said as the society is tilting towards knowledge driven era, there is need to key into the trend to ensure that Air Personnel have the skills and knowledge that will enable them fit into the system so as to discharge their services effectively wherever they found themselves.
“this is a Knowledge driven Century, it is either you are in or you are not part of it. So, we need to key in to make sure our personnel have the skills and knowledge to fit into the situation on ground and also be effective”, he said, revealing that, “AFIT has entered into collaborations with over 30 universities in the country, and we are planning to enter into another one with a University in South Africa”.
Air Marshal Abubakar added that, “It is pleasing to note that for over 40 years, AFIT has consistently trained officers and Airmen/Airwomen who have performed creditably in supporting NAF operations as specialists in Aircraft and Armament Engineering, works and services, supply management, communication as well as Information and Communication Technology”.
The Air Marshal noted that the focus of his administration is to ensure that Air Personnel possess essential knowledge and skills to effectively support Nigerian Air Force operations.
“The vision of the current NAF administration is anchored on human capacity development for enhanced professional performance.
“This remains the prime focus of my administration to ensure our personnel possess requisite knowledge and skills to effectively support Nigerian Air Force operations.
“Towards this end, the technical and logistics management courses conducted in Air Force Institute of Technology have tremendously reduced dependence on foreign expatriates and saved huge foreign exchange for the nation.
Speaking earlier, the Commandant of the Institute, AVM Abdulganiyyu Olabisi, expressed optimism that the skills acquired by the personnel during their training will give them additional advantage in carrying out their responsibilities, adding that, “during the training, there was zero tolerance for indiscipline, truancy, recalcitrance and all forms of malpractices in order to inculcate in them the core values of integrity, excellence and service delivery”.
Olabisi however expressed dearth of essential tools and workshop equipment for efficient training of personnel, saying that, Some of the equipment used to train the students are obsolete and no longer in tune with current times, some are also not serviceable or in some cases not available.
AVM Olabisi therefore called on NAF HQ to assist in the provision of training aids, workshop equipment and tools to facilitate the conduct of practical training for military courses in the Institute.
About 435 personnel passed out at the graduation ceremony having completed training in various courses, ranging from Engineering Officers Initial Course, Initial Officers Armament Maintenance Course, Initial Logistics and Procurement Management Officers Course, Initial Electrical/Electronics/Radar/Information Technology Officers Course, Basic Airmen Aircraft Maintenance Course- Air Frame and Power Plant Option, Basic Airmen Maintenance Course – Avionics Option and Basic Airmen Logistics and Procurement Course.
2020-09-21