PROFILE: Meet Nigeria’s 23rd Air Chief of Staff, AVM Sunday K. Aneke
Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sunday Kelvin Aneke hails from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. The son of Air Warrant Officer (Rtd) Sylvester Aneke and Mrs. Ngozi Aneke, his early education at Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’ (1976–1982), and Government College, Kaduna (1982–1987), set the stage for a disciplined and purpose-driven life dedicated to service and excellence.
AVM Aneke was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as a member of the 40th Regular Combatant Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as a Pilot Officer on September 10, 1993. Since then, his military career has exemplified brilliance, commitment, and steady advancement through merit.
A consummate scholar and strategic thinker, AVM Aneke holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar, and two Master’s Degrees — one in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Abuja.
He also earned a Professional Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, USA, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), underscoring his dedication to continuous learning and adaptive leadership in modern airpower strategy.
Throughout his distinguished career, AVM Aneke has attended several prestigious military institutions, including the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, where he completed both the Junior and Senior Staff Courses, and the United States Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, where he obtained a Master’s in Strategic Studies.
His impressive service record includes numerous command, instructional, and policy appointments that refined his operational and strategic expertise. These include Director of Policy, Director of Safety, Deputy Director of Operations at NAF Headquarters, Command Operations Officer at the Tactical Air Command, and Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
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Until his recent appointment as Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), AVM Aneke served as the Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa. In that role, he enhanced air mobility operations, strengthened joint force integration, and improved the strategic responsiveness of the Nigerian Air Force in multi-domain operations.
A highly experienced pilot with over 4,359 flying hours, he is type-rated on multiple aircraft including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier 228, Citation 500, Falcon 900, Gulfstream V, Gulfstream 550, and Hawker 4000. His operational engagements span both domestic and international theatres, notably Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta and United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he served as Chief of Air Operations, Kindu Region.
His contributions to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions have been instrumental in strengthening NAF’s counter-insurgency capabilities across several operational fronts.
Decorated with numerous medals and honours — including GSS, DSS, GSM, FCM, Psc, MSc, MIAD, MPEDS, and USAFWC — AVM Aneke is widely celebrated as a refined officer, visionary leader, and professional aviator of exceptional integrity. His calm demeanor, strategic foresight, and results-oriented leadership have earned him respect within and beyond the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
As the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, AVM Sunday Kelvin Aneke brings to the Nigerian Air Force a wealth of experience, intellectual depth, and operational acumen. His leadership promises to deepen intelligence-led operations, drive innovation in defence technology, and enhance human capacity development within the Service.
AVM Aneke is happily married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and their union is blessed with three sons — Chukwuebuka Kelvin, Ifeanyichukwu Brian, and Uchechukwu Jason.
With a rare blend of humility, professionalism, and patriotism, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke represents the finest traditions of the Nigerian Air Force — discipline, courage, and excellence — as he leads the Service into a new era of smarter airpower and strengthened national security.
By PRNigeria
