The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated 165 personnel across various specialities, underscoring its commitment to capacity building and professional development for effective service delivery.
The graduation ceremony for upgrading courses took place on Thursday at the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Administration and Management (NAFIAM), Kaduna.
Speaking at the event, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command, AVM Ahmed Shinkafi, said the NAF under the leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was committed to deliberate training and mission-oriented force development, which form part of the CAS’s command philosophy.
According to him, the Nigerian Air Force will continue to invest in training and capacity development to strengthen its role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“I am delighted that the Institute has continued to live up to its establishment mandate. I am equally aware that the Institute is at the verge of getting its courses accredited by the National Board for Technical Education in order to reposition the Institute for greater achievements. This is commendable. I assure you of the unwavering commitment of Ground Training Command towards achieving this feat,” Shinkafi said.
He told the graduands that the day marked not just the end of a rigorous training period but the beginning of a new chapter in their careers.
“The skills you have acquired whether in administration, physical fitness, music or catering, are all vital to the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force. This is because a military force is not just its aircraft or weaponry; it is the men and women who serve it,” he said.
Shinkafi urged the graduands to embrace the challenges ahead with discipline, integrity and innovation, stressing that the NAF remains a dynamic organisation that demands continuous learning and adaptation.
“You must therefore use the knowledge you have gained to drive positive change and to contribute to a more efficient and responsive force. We are all counting on you to be the administrative and managerial backbone that ensures the Nigerian Air Force continues to fulfill its constitutional mandate of defending our nation’s territorial integrity,” he added.
The AOC commended the CAS for his support in enhancing proficiency, professionalism and capacity development of non-aircrew personnel across various trades.
Earlier, the Commandant of NAFIAM, AVM Muhammad Yusuf, said the 165 personnel were trained in administration, music, physical education and catering.
“The Institute remains committed to imparting knowledge and enhancing excellence through qualitative training in human resource management, leadership and administrative fields,” he said.
Yusuf also disclosed that since assuming office in June 2023, the Institute had trained 18 officers from the Ghana Air Force and is expecting another batch from the Ghana Air Force and Navy. He added that seven senior officers from the Nigerian Navy are also undergoing training at the Institute.
The Commandant assured that NAFIAM would continue to pursue excellence, international collaboration and continuous learning in line with the CAS’s key enabler of “deliberate training and mission-oriented force development.”
