The Honourable Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has charged graduating officers of the Air War College to embrace innovation, foresight, and proactive leadership as they step into new roles in Nigeria’s evolving security environment.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Minister delivered the charge to members of Air War Course 11/2025, describing them as “frontline thinkers and doers” in Nigeria’s security architecture.

“The rise of violent non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and complex security threats requires innovative and proactive methods to defeat them,” he said. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been at the forefront of confronting these challenges, and your training has equipped you with the skills to make decisive contributions to this effort.”

He emphasized that as threats facing Nigeria grow more complex and transnational — from terrorism and insurgency to piracy and organised crime the need for adaptable and innovative leaders has never been greater.

Dr. Abubakar praised the NAF for prioritising professional military education, commending the Air War College for producing operational-level leaders who can respond to both national and regional security demands. He also lauded the College’s role in fostering defence cooperation with friendly nations, noting the participation of officers from Cameroon, Botswana, and Morocco alongside colleagues from the Nigerian Army and Navy. Such collaboration, he said, strengthens regional synergy in tackling cross-border extremist and criminal networks.

In his address, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, urged the graduates to confront terrorism with urgency. “The task at hand is to ensure terrorism anywhere is defeated before it undermines peace everywhere,” he warned. He reminded them that Africa’s expanding terror networks require coordinated and decisive responses.

“The future of airpower rests in your hands,” he declared. “Your ability to employ it decisively will strike at the very centre of gravity of the adversary.”

Air Marshal Abubakar congratulated the 29 senior officers who completed the 37-week course, which sharpened their expertise in leadership, strategy, joint operations, and cyber warfare. He noted that the course was designed to produce operational-level commanders capable of interpreting strategic directives and integrating diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments of national power into air operations.

Earlier, the Commandant of the Air War College, Air Vice Marshal Babatunde Phillips, described the graduation as the culmination of months of intellectual rigour and professional transformation. He commended the resilience and maturity of the participants and urged them to apply their newly acquired knowledge to practical leadership challenges.

Also in attendance was the Executive Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, represented by his Deputy, Barrister Sam Ode, mni, who commended the NAF for its commitment to excellence in training and for the sacrifices of the Armed Forces in safeguarding the nation.

Highlights of the ceremony included the conferment of the Fellowship of the Air War College, Nigeria, on the graduands and the presentation of awards. Commander P.C. Onah emerged as Overall Best Graduand and Best Research Paper awardee, Group Captain C.J. Mbam as Second Best, Wing Commander E.A. Okeke as Third Best, and Lieutenant Colonel P.N.E. Nguoa of Cameroon as Best Allied Participant.

The graduation underscored the NAF’s commitment to advancing airpower education, strengthening international defence cooperation, and safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty.

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