Air Chief Pledges to Prioritize Students’ Safety, Academic Success
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The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has stated that his utmost concern remains the safety, wellbeing and academic excellence of all students of Air Force comprehensive and secondary schools nationwide, and any attempt to infringe on such priorities will not be tolerated. He stated this recently while interacting with the Commandant and some staff of Air Force Comprehensive School, Iyana-Offa in Ibadan, Oyo State. Air Marshal Abubakar also stated that any act of negligence on the part of commandants, staff or instructors in charge of NAF schools nationwide that leads to injury or threat to life of any student would not be tolerated. According to him, “It is your responsibility to follow laid down guidelines as well as other means in identifying red flags that may indicate gaps or lapses within your school environments so as to forestall avoidable incidents or tragedies. I will not condone any act that would lead to injuries or the death of any of our students.” The CAS also stressed that the NAF remains dedicated and committed to providing a conducive learning environment, ensuring the overall development of students, and empowering them to reach their full potential. He then called on commandants and staff of NAF schools to always ensure they put the interest of the students first before any other interest. Air Marshal Abubakar went on to note that NAF’s investment in education is a vital aspect of its welfare package, aimed at supporting the families of personnel as well as those of civilians, while also contributing to the nation’s human capital development. It is also part of its soft power strategy aimed at endearing it to the populace and enabling it to engage with the civil populace through the provision of affordable and qualitative education for their wards.
While at Iyana-Offa, the CAS inspected ongoing renovation works at the students’ hostels and classrooms, as part of a wider phased School Intervention Strategy embarked upon by Air Marshal Abubakar to holistically renovate, upgrade and carry out repairs in NAF schools across Nigeria. The NAF currently runs 13 secondary schools nationwide consisting of 9 boarding and 4 day schools with a total strength of 11,177 students as well as 21 primary schools spread across the country with a total strength of 13, 758 pupils. Its oldest secondary school, Air Force Military School, Jos, was established in 1980, while its oldest primary school, Air Force Primary School, Ikeja, was established in 1976. Currently, the NAF is building additional schools at NAF Bases located at Abuja, Bauchi, Kaduna and Igbara-Oke in Osun State, all expected to come on stream by September 2024.
Edward Gabkwet
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
27 June 2024
