The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna matriculated 1641 students into 7 faculties and 22 departments for the 2021/2022 academic session.
The event which took place at Ibrahim Alfa Auditorium on Saturday 30 July 2022 had the Chief of the Air Staff and Chairman AFIT Governing Council, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao as the Guest of Honour. In his speech, while congratulating the students also encouraged them to take full advantage of the hybrid nature of the Institute. He also commended the Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Aminu Yakubu for the giant strides the Institute has recorded under his productive leadership. He also pledged his continued support and assistance to the ideas and aspiration of the Institute.
Air Marshal Amao seized the opportunity to address the progress made so far since the Nigerian Air Force relocated its Research and Development Centre from Kaduna to Oshogbo Osun State. He informed the gathering that the Governor of Osun State His Excellency Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola recently handed over the State runway and airport corridor to the Nigerian Air Force in preparation for the total relocation of the Air Force Research and Development Centre (AFRDC). He also said that discussions are at advanced stages with foreign partners for commencement of work at the new Centre. As soon as agreements are concluded, the aircraft manufacturing plant, a maintenance repair organisation and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle production centre will immediately be operative.
The Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Vice Marshal MA Yakubu had earlier in his opening address charged the students to grasp the unique opportunity of studying in AFIT as it is one of the few public universities in Nigeria with an unbroken academic calendar. The Commandant also encouraged the students to study hard as the management of the Institute will be rewarding exceptional performances in the succeeding academic session. For the overall best student both in character and CGPA in each faculty, 100% tuition fee will be waived and 50% tuition fee will be waived for the best student in each department, he said.
AVM Yakubu further noted that AFIT is the foremost Center of Excellence for Aerospace Engineering in Nigeria and thus students of Aerospace Engineering and Aircraft Engineering Technology should take full advantage of the available resources. According to the Commandant, the Institute is the better equipped and best staffed of the only 2 universities that offer aerospace engineering related degrees in Nigeria. Moreso, AFIT also leverages on the experience gained in the training of Nigerian Air Force aviation technical personnel as well as the infrastructure provided by the NAF for that purpose to enrich the contents of her programmes.
In his remarks, the Provost of the Institute, Professor Mohammed Dauda, urged the matriculating students to eschew all forms of violence and antisocial behaviours which include bullying, cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse amongst others. He also pledged that as Head of the Academic Branch, he would ensure qualitative teaching and availability of research materials to ensure that AFIT produces scholars who are able to compete with their contemporaries globally.
Among the highlights of the matriculation was the presentation of an Eagle Plaque to the Chairman of the Institute Governing Council and group photographs.