The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has achieved a significant milestone, emerging as the fastest-growing tertiary institution in Nigeria in terms of national spread. This was contained in the July 2024 edition of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) weekly publication, otherwise known as the JAMBulletin.

According to the periodical, AFIT secured the top position among 74 other universities for having the highest national spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This feat underscores AFIT’s growing credibility, reputation and popularity as Nigeria’s premier aerospace institution for higher learning, attracting students from various parts of the country.

In the same publication, AFIT was also recognized for its adherence to JAMB’s admission guidelines, earning the second position in this regard and highlighting its dedication to maintaining excellence and transparency as well as giving all Nigeria’s equal and unbiased opportunity in its admission processes. The increasing demand for admission into AFIT may be closely linked to the availability of technical teaching staff and aids, well-equipped laboratories, a zero-tolerance policy for strikes, affordable tuition and well-motivated academic and non-academic staff.

The institute has also aligned its academic calendar from January to September annually, in line with global standards. It is worthy to further note that the best candidate in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination selected AFIT as first-choice university, with an interest in pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering.

While commending the institution’s achievements, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, noted that AFIT’s rapid growth and accomplishments reflect its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and national development. “As the institution continues to soar to new heights, it is poised to play an increasingly important role in shaping Nigeria’s future,” CAS said.

He then urged the management and staff of the institution to build on these accomplishments and strive towards becoming a world-class institution renowned for academic excellence, innovation, and research.

AFIT was established in 1977 first as a diploma awarding Technical and Supply School and later as Techincal Training Group to support the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through the provision of its technical and engineering manpower requirement. It was renamed AFIT on 12 March 2008, and received approval to also offer degree programs in 2017, thus making it the only tripartite institution in Nigeria that concurrently offers both diploma and degree programs. Currently, the Institute has a student strength of 7, 584 which includes 537 military personnel undergoing various technical and engineering courses.

AFIT’s recent achievements are no doubt tangible reasons why it should not be subsumed under the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Considering its unique strengths and specialized focus on aerospace engineering and other related fields, such merger would surely be retrogressive and counterproductive to the growth of the Nigerian Aerospace industry.

Among several other plausible arguments, it would also undermine the Institute’s capacity to provide the needed technical and specialized skills required to continually sustain NAF’s counterinsurgency and counterterrorism efforts. There is thus a consensus that AFIT’s distinct roles and significant contributions to Nigeria’s aerospace landscape and technological advancement warrants its continued independence.

Edward Gabkwet
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
23 July 2024