NAF Boss Air Mashal Abubakar
NAF Boss Air Mashal Abubakar
NAF, Universities Collaborate to Combating
Insecurity
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has
disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would continue to
strengthen its existing strategic partnerships with Nigerian
universities in order to seek possible areas of cooperation and
knolwledge sharing to enhance NAF operations and combat emerging
security challenges.
This was stated by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE),
Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) John Baba, while leading a
Team of NAF researchers on tour of some Universities in the South
West of the country, with the aim of building on the already
existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the NAF and the
institutions. The Universities visited include University of Lagos,
Covenant University Ota, University of Ibadan and Federal
University of Technology, Akure.
At the University of Lagos, AVM Baba said the visit to the
Institution was to seek collaboration in the area of research to
improve NAF tactical operations at combating security challenges
bedeviling the country. After a courtesy call on the Vice
Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Team visited the
Dean of Engineering, Professor Funsho Falade, and the Head of
Department of System Engineering, Dr. Fashanu Theophilus. In their
separate responses, they assured the NAF of their continued support
and promised not to do anything that would jeopardized the already
existing MOU between the Institution and the NAF. The NAF Team
Leader, AVM Baba, listed key areas of research collaboration which
include: Artificial Intelligence; Automation and Robotics; Advanced
Materials and Nanotechnology; Precision Manufacturing and CNC
Technology; Digital Image Processing; Mechatronics; Object Tracking
and Detection; Aerospace Technology, especially Aircraft Systems as
well as ICT and Software Development.
While welcoming the NAF Team to Covenant University, the Vice
Chancellor, Professor Aderemi Atayero, assured the Team of the
Institution’s readiness to assist the NAF to boost its tactical
operations and develop its competences in all the key areas of
research. Professor Atayero also implored the NAF to send its
personnel to the Institution to study relevant courses that would
benefit the Service. The COSE also indicated NAF’s readiness to
engage lecturers from the universities to teach in various NAF
institutions.
Meanwhile, the combined Team of Air Force Military School (AFMS)
and Air Force Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (AFGCS) Jos has
emerged the winner of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Inter-Secondary
Schools Quiz, Debate and Sports Competition which ended in Kaduna
yesterday, 14 December 2018. The week-long event, which featured
both academic and sporting activities, brought over 500 students
from the 13 NAF secondary schools together, to foster team spirit
and healthy competition among the students to enable them excel in
their future endeavours.
In his remarks during the colourful Closing Ceremony, the Guest
of Honour, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar, disclosed that the development of psychomotor, cognitive
and affective learning domains through sports, quiz and debate are
essential for the achievement of NAF educational goals. He
expressed hope that the successful completion of the quiz/debate
and sports competitions would strengthen the knowledge of
Mathematics, Sciences, English Language and Literature as well as
capacity for sporting activities and camaraderie among students of
NAF schools. The CAS congratulated the winning schools and
encouraged others to immediately start preparations towards better
performance in the next competition. He also praised the untiring
efforts of the school commandants and teachers for training the
children towards their commendable performance at the competition.
He also expressed deep appreciation to the facilitators, officials
and students for their efforts in making the sports and quiz/debate
competition a resounding success.
The 10th edition of the NAF Inter-Schools Sports and 3rd edition
of NAF Inter-Schools Quiz and Debate Competitions, which began on
10 December 2018, featured track and field events, volleyball,
football, basketball and table tennis as well as quiz, debates and
march-past. Apart from emerging overall winner, the AFMS/AFGCS Jos
Team placed first in the Sports Competition while Air Force
Secondary School (AFSS) Port Harcourt took the first position in
the Debate Competition and Air Force Comprehensive School (AFCS)
Uyo came first in Quiz.
The Best Speaker award went to Miss Gloria Irobuisi from AFSS
Port Harcourt. The Closing Ceremony featured the 100m girls and
boys as well as the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m boys and girls and the
finals of the football competition, which saw AFCS Kaduna edging
out AFMS Jos by a goal to nil.
Guests at the Ceremony included Branch Chiefs from NAF
Headquarters as well as the Air Officers Commanding Tactical Air
Command, Air Training and Ground Training Commands, along with
other senior officers.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force