CAS Wants Nationwide Integration of NAF’s Emergency Nursing Innovation
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has called on the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to adopt the Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing Sciences’ (NAFCONS) pioneering “Air Mobile First Aid” training as a national standard in nursing education.
Delivering the message through the Chief of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe, during the matriculation ceremony of National Diploma I (Set 6) students at NAF Base Kaduna on April 11.
A statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force yesterday said the CAS described the initiative as a groundbreaking innovation with the potential to redefine emergency healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
“This initiative is not just a military innovation—it is a national asset,” he said. “It is time we scale this program beyond NAFCONS, making it a cornerstone in our national nursing curriculum. The future of emergency healthcare in Nigeria depends on it.”
Read Also:
The Air Mobile First Aid training, the first of its kind in the country, focuses on aeromedical evacuation, rapid emergency response in austere environments, and the development of critical military and aerospace nursing competencies. It is a joint product of NAFCONS and the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, a collaboration that the CAS described as a “model of readiness for crisis response and emergency care in complex terrains.”
Air Marshal Abubakar commended NAFCONS for its consistent excellence in nursing education, including a 100% pass rate in national nursing licensing examinations and the successful integration of military and civilian students in a values-driven learning environment.
“NAFCONS is not only producing highly skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals, it is setting a national benchmark in nursing education,” he said, adding that the college’s inclusive model exemplifies unity and national progress.
Earlier in his address, the Commandant of NAFCONS, Squadron Leader Boyi Elisha, expressed appreciation to the CAS, the CMS, and regulatory bodies like the NMCN and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for their continued support.
He reaffirmed the college’s mission to train world-class nurses equipped for both civilian and military service.
The event also marked a milestone in the institution’s growth, with 120 new students—the highest intake in its history—taking their matriculation oaths.
This, according to officials, reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s deepening commitment to strengthening the healthcare sector through education and civil-military collaboration.
By PRNigeria
