By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA .The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has called for expanded intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to further strengthen research, innovation and human capital development at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).
Air Marshal Aneke made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, where he expressed the Nigerian Air Force’s appreciation for the Fund’s sustained interventions that have supported the growth of AFIT over the years.
According to the Air Chief, TETFund has remained a strategic partner to the Nigerian Air Force, particularly in enhancing the capacity of AFIT to deliver technical education and training critical to national development.
“TETFund has been a long-standing strategic partner to the Nigerian Air Force. Its interventions at the Air Force Institute of Technology have significantly enhanced the institute’s ability to deliver on its mandate as our premier technical training institution,” Aneke said.
He highlighted several key projects executed through TETFund support, including the construction of the Faculties of Ground and Communication Equipment and Management Sciences, a Cyber Security building, multi-user laboratories, office complexes and accommodation facilities.
The CAS also noted that the institution has benefited from ICT development initiatives, expansion of library facilities and support for entrepreneurship programmes aimed at preparing students for emerging technological opportunities.
Air Marshal Aneke said the interventions have contributed significantly to AFIT’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading institutions in aerospace and aviation-related disciplines.
He attributed the institution’s increasing popularity among students to its culture of discipline, commitment to academic excellence and uninterrupted academic calendar.
According to him, AFIT’s zero tolerance for strike actions has made it an attractive option for students seeking stable and high-quality technical education.
“Through sustained collaboration with TETFund, AFIT has evolved into a multidisciplinary centre of excellence producing highly skilled manpower for Nigeria’s aviation, aerospace and defence sectors,” he said.
The Air Chief also identified additional areas where further TETFund support could strengthen the institute’s research and innovation capacity, particularly in emerging technological fields.
He added that similar interventions could benefit other Nigerian Air Force academic institutions, including the Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing and the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, especially in infrastructure development and academic capacity building.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of TETFund commended the Nigerian Air Force for its commitment to academic excellence and national capacity development.
He noted that AFIT’s progress reflects the impact of sustained collaboration between the Fund and the Nigerian Air Force and reaffirmed TETFund’s readiness to continue supporting initiatives that promote research, innovation and human capital development in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
