Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar has charged personnel to remain committed to the collective efforts to sustain and surpass current intensity of air operations.
He gave the charge at the graduation ceremony of this year’s sundry military courses held at the Airforce Institute of Technology-AFIT, Kaduna State.
Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba explained that the professional competencies of the graduands are necessary to guarantee optimum aircraft serviceability and availability in furtherance of national security imperatives.
He noted that through the successful execution of the sundry military programmes, the institute has enhanced the quality of skilled technical manpower of the NAF.
The Air Chief expressed delight that the graduands of AFIT are adequately skilled and technically capable of maintaining NAF platforms and equipment in the field.
He assured that the NAF headquarters would address the difficulties faced in trying to reposition the Institute despite resource constraints.
Air Marshal Abubakar congratulated the graduands, and charged them to justify the huge investment made on them by regularly practicing and engaging in maintenance activities in the field.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant of AFIT, Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe explained that over the years, the increase in scope of the training required and the increase in the number of personnel that require the training, as well as the routine re-organisation of the force have necessitated various upgrades to the school.
He pointed out that despite the expansion of AFIT and the increase in its mandate, the Institute has not lost focus on its primary role of producing quality technical manpower for the NAF.
A total of 628 personnel comprising 37 officers and 591 airmen/airwomen, among whom are 3 personnel from Ghana and 4 personnel from Tanzania graduated after undergoing 6 and 18 months training respectively in various courses.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to deserving graduands.
Usman Sani.
