NDC Air Force Participants Present Strategic Capacity Paper to Chief of the Air Staff
Participants of Course 33 of the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, drawn from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have presented a strategic service paper to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
The research paper, titled “Human Capacity Development in High-Tech Platform Maintenance for Operational Efficiency: Strategic Options for the NAF by 2035”, forms a core component of the NDC curriculum and is a key requirement for the award of the prestigious Fellowship of the Defence College (fdc). The paper explores forward-looking strategies to boost the NAF’s operational efficiency by strengthening human capital in high-technology systems maintenance.
In his address, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasised the indispensable role of human resource development and high-tech maintenance in sustaining air power capabilities. He commended the quality of the research, noting its relevance in driving innovation, strategic planning, and mission effectiveness within the NAF.
The CAS also lauded the NDC’s leadership, particularly under the stewardship of its Commandant, Rear Admiral James Ohimai Okosun, for fostering a culture of intellectual rigour and forward thinking. He highlighted the NAF’s ongoing commitment to capacity development in advanced technologies, in alignment with national defence priorities and global aerospace trends.
Speaking during the event, Rear Admiral Okosun expressed gratitude to the CAS for the warm reception and his deep engagement with the paper’s findings. He noted that the service paper presentation is a critical milestone in the NDC training process, designed to hone analytical skills and develop actionable policy recommendations for defence stakeholders.
Rear Admiral Okosun reiterated the College’s strategic mandate to prepare senior officers for leadership roles by equipping them with the intellectual and operational frameworks necessary to address complex security challenges at national and international levels.
Presenting the paper on behalf of the Air Force participants, Group Captain Hussaini Ajibogu explained that the study outlines a practical roadmap for embedding innovation into NAF operations, improving readiness, and ensuring long-term sustainability of air assets.
The presentation was followed by an interactive session with the CAS, the signing of the visitors’ register, and a commemorative group photograph.
