Nigerian Air Force Marks International Women’s Day As Chief Of Air Staff Urges Airwomen To Embrace Mentorship, Collaboration and Professional Excellence

Nigerian Air Force Marks International Women’s Day As Chief Of Air Staff Urges Airwomen To Embrace Mentorship, Collaboration and Professional Excellence

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day with a seminar for its female personnel, where the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, commended officers and airwomen for their professionalism, resilience and dedication to service. The CAS, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, gave the commendation on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 during the seminar held at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja. Speaking on the theme “Give to Gain – Professionalism, Collaboration and Collective Uplift,” the CAS emphasised that the theme highlights the importance of mentorship, knowledge sharing and collaboration as vital tools for building stronger institutions and advancing professional excellence within the Service.

Air Marshal Aneke noted that meaningful progress within the Air Force and society at large can only be achieved when individuals work together for collective success. He praised the growing contributions of women across several operational and technical specialties of the Service, including piloting, engineering, medical services, armament operations and administration. According to him, the increasing number of female officers excelling in leadership, operational and technical roles reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to fostering a gender-inclusive environment where opportunities are driven by merit, competence and professionalism. He also expressed appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his continued support to the Nigerian Air Force and for initiatives aimed at empowering women, including the Nigeria for Women Programme.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff for supporting the maiden seminar, describing it as a significant initiative aimed at celebrating the achievements of female personnel in the Nigerian Air Force. He noted that the seminar, organised by the Civil-Military Relations Branch, was designed to promote mentorship, collaboration and professional development among airwomen, while encouraging them to continue contributing meaningfully to the operational effectiveness and institutional growth of the Nigerian Air Force.