The Nigeria Airforce War College, Makurdi, Benue State has graduated 19 senior military officers, trained to meet contemporary challenges in air warfare.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony on Friday in Makurdi, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, described the training as apt.
He said the changing character of warfare required military officers to be equipped with requisite skills to handle emerging security challenges.
Represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, AVM Nurudeen Balogun, Abubakar said the participants were trained to be adaptive in various war strategies and in military thinking.
He said the college had bridged the gap that existed between the quality of workforce that transited from the tactical to the operational and strategic levels of the Airforce in the country.
The CAS noted that the college had also been training qualitative personnel to fit in all air power operations, adding that it was comparable to other colleges of similar function across the globe.
He said facilities in the college were upgraded to the requirement of an international air war college.
The CAS also disclosed that since his assumption of duties, he had placed premium on capacity building in the Service.
According to him, his effort has re-positioned the Service into a highly and disciplined force, capable of tackling the security challenges of the country.
He said several Airforce personnel were undergoing various courses in different areas of air power across the country.
Abubakar said the college was established in 2017 to provide the needed impetus for the training of officers in airpower.
He said the college was the highest professional military training institution in the Nigerian Airforce, adding that it had been playing leading role in the articulation of strategy and doctrine in the Service.
Earlier, the Commandant of the college, AVM John Baba, said the graduates were the second batch of officers from the college.
He said the training of participants at the college was tailored to meet the vision of the CAS in “developing a qualitative manpower in the field of air power for effective conduct of air operations”.
He said the participants include 9 Wing Commanders from the Airforce, one Lt-Col. from the Army and two Commanders from the Navy.
The commandant said during the six months training, four wing commanders were promoted to Group Captains, while the Lieutenant Colonel was promoted to Colonel.
Baba said the course was designed to equip participants with general knowledge of warfare with emphasis on air power.
He said the college had divided its curriculum into modules that include, Air Power Principles, Warfare Studies, Fundamentals of Strategy, War Fighting and War Gaming as well as Land and Maritime Warfare Studies.
Baba said the participants were drilled in various military operations aimed at broadening and strengthening their knowledge of air operations.
He, therefore, called on the graduates to utilise the skills and tactics they acquired during the training, to enhance their performances.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the high point of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to participants in addition to giving medals to those that distinguished themselves during the course.
Group Captain Emang Imoke won the Commandants’ trophy for developing a paper judged to be the best in aviation security.
Group Captain MN Saidu won the CAS trophy while Group Captain Ehime Ejodame emerged the overall best participant.
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