Nigerian Air Force Launches AI and Space Tech Era At 61st Anniversary Colloquium

Nigerian Air Force Launches AI and Space Tech Era At 61st Anniversary Colloquium

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in collaboration with the Bradford-Redunchintala Centre for Space Artificial Intelligence, on 19 May 2025, held a historic International Colloquium as part of activities marking its 61st Anniversary, ushering in a new era of strategic innovation in space science and artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar emphasized that the colloquium is a strategic milestone in line with his command philosophy which is to transform the NAF into “an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”

The CAS noted that that the “Colloquium is more than a ceremonial event. It is the foundation of a strategic partnership to harness the power of space science and artificial intelligence for the enhancement of our national development and security”.

Earlier while welcoming the guests, the Chief of Communications and Information Systems (CCIS), Air Vice Marshal Suleiman Usman averred that the event “further underscores CAS’s strategic intent to develop and sustain optimal operational effectiveness in the NAF by continually collaborating with relevant strategic partners that will contribute significantly to collective pursuit of harnessing cutting-edge technologies to address Nigeria’s pressing security challenges”

The event, which brought together leading minds from Nigeria’s aerospace, defence, academia, and technology sectors, as well as global experts from the United Kingdom, was more than a ceremonial highlight. It marked the beginning of a transformative partnership aimed at leveraging cutting-edge space technologies and AI to advance national security, intelligence, and economic resilience.

The colloquium featured key presentations and each session addressed how data-driven technologies and real-time space capabilities can revolutionize modern warfare and intelligence frameworks.

A significant highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NAF and the Bradford-Redunchintala Centre, formalizing their commitment to joint research, innovation, training, and the deployment of AI-driven space applications. This agreement signals a bold leap toward technological leadership in aerospace operations.

Together, we rise to build a future where the Nigerian Air Force leads in harnessing artificial intelligence and space technology, upholding our mandate with unmatched agility, resilience, and vision.