The Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Kaduna, AVM Sani Labaran Rabe, today, 22 November, 2023 disclosed that the Institute has the right manpower and experienced researchers to move the country forward in the area of technological development. AVM Rabe disclosed this when the Director General of Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRBD), Major General EA Ndagi visited AFIT as part of his strategic tour of research institutes within Kaduna.
AVM Rabe expressed his readiness to collaborate with the Defence Research and Development Bureau as well as other viable corporate partners to enhance research for the overall benefit of Nigerians.‘’ According to him, “it gives me pleasure to welcome you to Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna. AFIT as an institution is well prepared to collaborate with the Defense Research and Development Bureau as there are capable and experienced hands including facilities that can aid the conduct of any meaningful research project.’’
The Commandant enjoined the Team from DBRD to articulate a policy that will harmonize the resources available from all other collaborating institutions with the body to avoid duplication of research effort and waste of resources. He added that once an idea is developed, a team of researchers should be formed that will collaborate with all interested stakeholders and research institutions. He disclosed that AFIT has a functional electroplating shop which was available for any related research work.
Earlier, Major General Ndagi had stated that DBRD has a very critical mandate of coordinating the research and development activities of the Armed Forces in liaison with the relevant stakeholders like AFIT. According to him, the visit was to see areas of common collaboration with the Institute for the realization of DBRD’s goals. He added that ‘’ We have been engaging some various stakeholders since my assumption of office on 6 July 2023. I discovered that my predecessor has been engaging with AFIT and it is necessary to consolidate on the collaboration as a way of enhancing the national security and national development objective of some security research issues.”
The Provost of the Institute, Professor Mohammed Dauda, and the Director of Centre for Innovation and Research, Professor Alimi Maraf, in their remarks emphasized the need for stimulating armament activities among the military institutions collaborating with DBRD. They observed that many research endeavours were ongoing but stressed that “it is only when the right kind of synergy is created among known military institutions and when they work together that better results will come out of such research efforts.”
Bassey Okon
Wing Commander
AFIT Director of Public Relations