Nigerian Air Force Seeks Greater Collaboration With Tertiary Institutions On Research and Development

Nigerian Air Force Seeks Greater Collaboration With Tertiary Institutions On Research and Development

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) would continue to strengthen its existing strategic partnerships with Nigerian universities in order to seek possible areas of cooperation and knolwledge sharing to enhance NAF operations and combat emerging security challenges. This was stated yesterday, 13 December 2018, by the Chief of Standards and Evaluation (COSE), Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) John Baba, while leading a Team of NAF researchers on tour of some Universities in the South West of the country, with the aim of building on the already existing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the NAF and the institutions. The Universities visited include University of Lagos, Covenant University Ota, University of Ibadan and Federal University of Technology, Akure.

At the University of Lagos, AVM Baba said the visit to the Institution was to seek collaboration in the area of research to improve NAF tactical operations at combating security challenges bedeviling the country. After a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Team visited the Dean of Engineering, Professor Funsho Falade, and the Head of Department of System Engineering, Dr. Fashanu Theophilus. In their separate responses, they assured the NAF of their continued support and promised not to do anything that would jeopardized the already existing MOU between the Institution and the NAF. The NAF Team Leader, AVM Baba, listed key areas of research collaboration which include: Artificial Intelligence; Automation and Robotics; Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology; Precision Manufacturing and CNC Technology; Digital Image Processing; Mechatronics; Object Tracking and Detection; Aerospace Technology, especially Aircraft Systems as well as ICT and Software Development.

While welcoming the NAF Team to Covenant University, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aderemi Atayero, assured the Team of the Institution’s readiness to assist the NAF to boost its tactical operations and develop its competences in all the key areas of research. Professor Atayero also implored the NAF to send its personnel to the Institution to study relevant courses that would benefit the Service. The COSE also indicated NAF’s readiness to engage lecturers from the universities to teach in various NAF institutions.