The Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has tasked newly graduated personnel of specialized sundry courses at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna to be innovative, focused and bring the skills acquired during their training to bear in the discharge of their technical duties in support of air operations.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.
The Air chief who is also the Chairman of the AFIT Governing Council, was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao,
The CAS emphasized that, the development of skilled technical manpower for effective and efficient maintenance of NAF platforms has been the core responsibility of AFIT noting that the successful execution of the counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast and other military operations across the country has remained the focus of his administration since 2015.
He says, as a highly technical force, capacity building initiative is crucial to reducing dependence on foreign expertise and building the confidence of personnel.
” He further stated that the air operations in the Northeast and other parts of the country were glowing testament of capacity building initiatives to reposition the Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force that would respond efficiently, effectively and in a timely manner to national security challenges.”
He commended AFIT for doggedly continuing with the training of personnel in line with the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, despite the constraints imposed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While congratulating the graduands, the CAS reminded them of the need to always remember that the NAF expects a high standard of service delivery from them.
He therefore charged them to bring to bear the knowledge and skills they had acquired during the training in the discharge of their duties to enhance operational capacity of the Service.
In his welcome address, the Commandant AFIT, AVM Abdulganiyu Olabisi, says logistics remains a key element in the timely execution of operations as it ensures that manpower and support equipment are available in the right quantity and condition at the time and place where they are needed for operational use.
He stressed that the Intermediate Logistics Course was accordingly structured to expose the students to warehouse management, storage and transport procedures as well as requisition processes.
While stating that, the objective of the courses was to improve on the skills acquired by the airmen and airwomen from their basic training. The additional skill and knowledge, he said, would enable them carry out more specialized functions as they handle higher responsibilities. He also noted that the Intermediate training in aircraft maintenance was tailored towards reinforcing safety practices and quality assurance in line with international best practices.
The graduates have successfully completed intermediate courses in Aircraft Maintenance, Aerospace Ground Equipment, Automech as well as Logistics and Supply Chain Management after 6 months of intensive training.
Highlights of the graduation ceremony were the conferment of certificates on the graduating students as well as the presentation of awards to the best graduating students in each of the sundry courses.
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