The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another remarkable milestone in its pursuit of excellence in officer development as one of its officers distinguished himself at the Royal Air Force (RAF) College, Cranwell, United Kingdom.
At the Passing Out Parade of the Modular Initial Officer Training Course No. 38 held on 18 December 2025, Pilot Officer YB Usman emerged as the winner of the prestigious BAE Systems Trophy, an award presented to a RAF or International Cadet who attains the highest marks in professional studies on the course.
The achievement underscores the professionalism, discipline, and academic strength of NAF officers on international training platforms.
Congratulating the officer on the feat, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the achievement as a source of pride to the Service and the nation. “This outstanding performance by Pilot Officer YB Usman reflects the quality of training, discipline, and values of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said, adding that the recognition “reinforces our confidence in the ability of our young officers to compete and excel on the global stage while upholding the highest standards of professionalism.”
The ceremony was attended by the Director Military Training (DMT) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Brigadier General T Ahmed; the Nigeria Deputy Defence Attaché to the United Kingdom, Group Captain MS Wakili; and the Nigerian Defence Academy Assistant Adjutant, Squadron Leader KO Ettah, alongside other senior officers.
Pilot Officer Usman successfully completed the course, which commenced on 17 May 2025, distinguishing himself among a highly competitive cohort of British and international cadets and projecting Nigeria positively within a global military training environment.
