I warmly welcome all our esteemed guests to the graduation ceremony of officers and airmen who have successfully completed their initial and basic engineering and logistics courses respectively. We appreciate your presence especially as we have called on you twice in the very immediate past and you have all responded very overwhelmingly. We do not take it for granted and consider it evidence of your interest and support for the Air Force Institute of Technology. It is also confirmation of your belief and confidence in the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff who at the inception of his administration indicated very strong commitment to transform the Nigerian Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives. Having recognized that the officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force can only give as good as they are equipped to, he reiterated the need to train and re-train the men to handle all the operational needs of the Nigerian Air Force and thereby deemphasize dependence on foreign nationals and non-military actors. Today’s graduation ceremony is the third in quick succession and lends credence to the actualization of the CAS vision.
- The Initial and Basic Courses graduating today commenced about 3 months ago with 444 students comprising 75 officers and 369 airmen/airwomen. It is quite encouraging to note that all 444 students are graduating today having satisfied the requirements of course work, examinations and practical work in the following courses:
- 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
- Basic Airmen Logistics and Procurement Course
These basic courses are aimed at introducing the officers and men to their various trades in preparation for deployment to the field. The skills acquired at this training will enable them carry out their responsibilities at the basic level while they get ready for more specialized functions as they progress in their careers. The initial training in aircraft maintenance serves as their first engagement which will inculcate safety practices and quality assurance procedures in line with international standards and best practices. While the first thing that comes to mind about the Air Force is aircrafts, it is very instructive to note that much more goes into the effective operations of the Air Force. Logistics and procurement remain very germane elements to the execution of safe and timely operations. It ensures that manpower and equipment required for operations are available in the right quantity and quality, in timely fashion and appropriate places to avoid failure.