Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, says that the review of curricula of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) training institutions and facilities has become expedient so that personnel would be combat ready and operate at optimum level to counter both domestic and foreign threats.
Air Marshal Amao, who spoke at the winging ceremony of some pilots and operators held at Headquarters NAF, Abuja, said that in line with this approach, NAF recently reviewed the curricula of the various schools in the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to meet expected standards, whilst also conducting instructional training for the instructors to ensure enhanced performance.
He also revealed that the training curriculum for NAF cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy has been reviewed and new criteria specified for NAF officers to be eligible for posting to the Academy as instructors.
The Air Force Chief announced that some select Ground and Flying Schools were also affected by the new focus, stating: “I have authorized the audit of selected institutions in the NAF, including flying schools, by a team of experienced retired senior officers with a view to upgrading the practices and facilities at the institutions to meet international standards and best practices.”
According to the statement on the winging event by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Chief of Air Staff further stated that special arrangements have also been made to upgrade operations training facilities to enhance the operational capacity of NAF operators in anticipation of increased tempo of air operations with the recently acquired platforms, while sustaining capacity building programmes for the NAF Regiment in joint efforts for synergy of air-ground integrated operations with sister Services.
Overall, these efforts, the CAS noted, are geared towards positioning the institutions and facilities as centres of excellence that would produce pilots, engineers, technicians and other specialists that are well equipped to carry out their constitutional roles more effectively and efficiently.
