By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in its constitutional mandate of producing professionally competent officers of sound character for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). This assurance was made during the visit of the 34th Commandant of the Academy, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, to the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 26 November 2025.
In an official signed statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed that Air Marshal Aneke congratulated the Commandant on his well-deserved appointment, describing it as “a testament to his proven competence, dedication, and exemplary service.” The Air Chief, who previously served as Deputy Commandant of the Academy, noted that the visit was both symbolic and significant, explaining that his years at the NDA “deepened my appreciation of the NDA’s critical role as the foundation of leadership development and character moulding for the officer corps.”
Air Marshal Aneke described the Academy as “the cradle of military professionalism, where the future leadership of the Armed Forces is shaped,” stressing that it remains central to producing officers who are “mentally resilient, morally upright, and operationally prepared to defend our nation in an evolving security environment.” He highlighted that sustaining a professional and combat-ready officer corps requires continuous collaboration in training, faculty development, capacity building, and exposure to real-time operational environments.
Reaffirming the Service’s support, the CAS said, “The Nigerian Air Force will continue to support the NDA to ensure it produces officers who are fully equipped to contribute meaningfully to national defence.”
Responding, Major General Olatoye expressed appreciation for the warm reception and pledged to build on the structures, reforms, and legacies of his predecessors. He assured that the Academy under his leadership would deepen synergy with all Services, noting, “We are committed to ensuring that the Academy remains globally competitive, academically sound, and strategically aligned with the contemporary needs of the Armed Forces.”
The Commandant further emphasized the NDA’s dedication to strengthening its curriculum, leadership development frameworks, and character-moulding processes. According to him, “our goal is to produce officers who embody excellence, discipline, and readiness for the demands of modern warfare.”
Both leaders expressed confidence that the renewed partnership will further advance the development of competent, disciplined, and combat-ready officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
