The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar has said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will continue to strengthen existing partnerships with universities and research institutions in finding solutions to national security challenges.
Abubakar made the commitment while speaking as special guest at the NDA’s 11th professorial inaugural lecture on Tuesday in Kaduna. The title of the lecture was ‘Combating Insurgency and Violent Extremism in the 21st Century: Towards a Paradigm Shift in Nigeria’s National Security Architecture.’
The CAS said the Air Force has maintained a strong belief in the capacity of Nigerian universities and research institutions in finding solutions to some of the security challenges the country is facing.
“The service has signed Memorandum of Understanding with various research institutions in Nigeria to develop concepts and prototypes that will infuse viable inputs to our aircraft and platforms,” he added.
Abubakar said with the support of local research institutions, the NAF has developed and put into operation local alternatives to to its spares and equipment requirements.
“To further strengthen the Service into a formidable platform for enhancing our national defence and security, our units, formations, assets and platforms are undergoing significant transformation.
“We are aggressively procuring new air assets and equipment, refurbishing existing ones and creating an avenue for local entrepreneurs and experts to instill sustainability into the use and management of our resources.”
Abubakar said, “We are in the process of unleashing pioneering software and hardware that will place our operations on a higher pedestal.
“At the NAF, our R&D strategy privileges local content and sustainable materials that are sourced in-country, and managed using local technology.
“In addition to our partnership with local universities and research agencies, the NAF has established its university, the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to serve as a hub for research, capacity building and knowledge production.
“AFIT started modestly with few core Faculties and Departments. And it has just admitted a second set of about 2,000 undergraduate students who will commence studies in January 2020.”
The CAS hoped that AFIT will establish partnerships with the NDA to advance the frontiers of knowledge.
He therefore urge the NDA to bring her rich experience in institution-building to support AFIT in areas of administration, personnel management, teaching, research and community service.
Earlier, the Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, said the NDA as an academy and training ground for future military think-tanks, would continue to ensure excellence at all times.
“Cadets and other staff of the academy would also add knowledge and brace up in coming up with solutions aimed at curtailing the insecurity challenges we are facing as a nation,” Sarham said.
Prof. Usman Tar, who delivered the inaugural lecture, maintained that the 21st century has been characterized by insurgency and violent extremism. He said that all relevant organs must collaborate in tackling the problem of security in the country.
“We need a paradigm shift in combating insurgency and violent extremism in Nigeria.
“To achieve this, we need a meticulous doctrinal and institutional design that emphasizes defense transformation and inter-agency collaboration.
“Our financial institutions, regulatory and financial crimes agencies and bodies need to also check the circulation of money which at some point some perpetrators of evil aid the financing of criminals.
“We also need to often make researches and develop our local content in equipment and software as well as innovative strategies to nip the act of terrorism in Nigeria,” Tar said.