…urges new pilots to uphold professional excellence
By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has urged newly graduated pilots of the Nigerian Air Force to view their flying qualifications as a solemn national responsibility, rather than just personal milestones. He made this call during the combined graduation ceremony of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49, held on May 2, 2025, at the 401 Flying Training School (FTS) in Kaduna.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame in an official signed statement disclosed that the CAS while addressing the 35 new aviators, comprising 10 Basic Transport Course graduates and 25 Ab-initio Student Pilots, reminded them of the immense trust placed on their shoulders, noting that their graduation marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to national service.
“Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal achievement, it is a national responsibility.
“You carry not just rank and wings, but the hopes of millions of Nigerians who depend on us for safety and security.” He said.
He further stressed that the operational strength of the Nigerian Air Force is directly linked to the standard of its training.
“In the Nigerian Air Force, we say that the quality of our training determines the strength of our operations.
“This is why, under my leadership, we are upgrading training institutions, inducting more aircraft, and evolving our doctrines to meet the demands of modern warfare.” He said.
The CAS characterized the graduation as a significant step forward in the Nigerian Air Force’s transformation into a more agile, resilient, and tech-driven force. He praised the 401 Flying Training School for its outstanding four-decade record of pilot training, noting that the school has successfully trained over 700 pilots for the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, and several African countries, such as the Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.
He ended by reaffirming the NAF’s steadfast commitment to professional growth, personnel welfare, and upholding its constitutional duties to secure Nigeria’s territory and support national growth.
