It is my pleasure to introduce the Department of International Relations (IR) of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna. The mission of the department is to create a centre of excellence by providing a conducive learning environment where students and visitors will experience the best of teaching, learning, research and transfer of knowledge in International Politics and Relations.
The Department of International Relations hopes to pride itself in attracting and producing some of the best students in the Institute. It is of utmost importance that our commitment and zeal will ensure the actualisation of this dream. Hence the Department is manned by a team of experienced academic staff who are at the forefront of teaching and research in their fields of specialisation. This handbook thus, is part of our desire to showcase the Department through a display of the range of our courses and services in a manner that is accessible to current, and prospective students and also visitors to the Institute. As a fresh, continuing or prospective student in the Department, be rest assured that you will be meeting a dedicated and hardworking team that is willing to impact knowledge and at the same time, learn from your input as we interact.
I hereby express my profound gratitude to all members of staff both academic and non-academic in the Department for their support in contributing to and at the same time going through the manuscript prior to its publication. It is indeed my privilege to be the pioneer Head, Department of International Relations who initiated this Handbook. Thank you Team IR.
The Department of International Relations established in October 2019 with 142 Students is one of six academic departments in the Faculty of Social and Management sciences. The Department was established in order to train and develop adequate and skilled manpower in the area of professional management.
The Department
Currently, the Department which started in January 2020 has the following full- time Academic staff: Assoc. Prof NC Lord-Mallam, Dr J Danfulani, MajDahiru, Mr A Adigwe, Mrs E Gimba, MrkZubairu, Mrs C Njoku, Mr A Bala and Miss S Gaddafi. The Department is supported by a team of non-academic staff headed by Miss J Onaiwu. Henceforth, the Department will work hard to ensure continuous improvement of existing programme until it becomes full blown Political Science discipline that will conform to the demands of a fast changing world.
Our Philosophy
A systematic study of Relations in the International arena that provides; a firm foundation for all-round knowledge of national and global structures and institutions; enhance understanding of social and political problems at various levels of society; stimulate the creative capacities for problem-solving and creative imagination; offer a solid basis for independent and critical thinking; and create the imperatives for character development and leadership/citizenship training.
Our Mission
The mission of the Department is to be a centre of excellence in International Relations by creating a safe and conducive environment where students and visitors will experience the best of active research and transfer of knowledge.
Our Objectives
- To develop students’ understanding of the concepts and issues that underpin the discipline of International Relations including, but not limited to, Comparative Politics, Defence/Security/Strategic Studies, International Relations’ Theories, Peace and Conflict Studies and Research Methodology.
- To stimulate students’ grasp of theoretical and practical issues in International Relations.
- To develop students’ understanding of social and political problems at various levels of society – national, regional and global.
- To enhance students’ capacities in critical thinking, with balanced and evidence-based analysis.
- To equip and enhance students’ skills and capacities in solving problems by developing creative solutions to social and political problems in both global and local contexts.
