By Nkechi Eze
It was a moment of cheers, reflection and warm nostalgia on 2 February 2026 as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, returned to the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos, retracing the corridors of his childhood in a visit that seamlessly blended official duty with deeply personal reflection. What formed part of his inspection programme quickly transformed into a powerful encounter between past and present as the Air Chief walked familiar paths, not as a young boy on the playground, but as the leader of the Nigerian Air Force.
The visit took on heightened emotional significance when Air Marshal Aneke made a detour to the residential quarters where he spent more than a decade growing up within the NAF community. Residents poured out in excitement, with youngsters and mothers especially eager to welcome him home. His return stood as a living testimony that humble beginnings within the Nigerian Air Force environment can rise to the highest levels of leadership through discipline, hard work and unwavering dedication.
The Chief of the Air Staff visited the flat units where he lived with his father, who rose through the ranks and retired with distinction as an Air Warrant Officer. At each stop, he exchanged warm greetings and kind gestures with residents, evoking memories of a similar visit to his childhood residence at the NAF Base in Kaduna last year. Standing in familiar surroundings, Air Marshal Aneke shared vivid recollections of growing up on the base and spoke about the values of discipline, service and perseverance that were instilled in him from an early age. For many watching, it was more than a senior officer speaking; it was a reminder that greatness can quietly grow in ordinary spaces nurtured by strong values.
The emotional peak of the visit came as youngsters gathered around the Air Chief, chanting enthusiastically, “We love you, sir, and want to be like you.” Smiling warmly, Air Marshal Aneke encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their dreams, assuring them that their present environment could shape an extraordinary future, just as it had shaped his own journey. Nearby, a visibly moved mother reinforced the moment by reminding her son of the importance of education and perseverance as enduring pillars of success.
In line with the Nigerian Air Force’s people-focused policy direction, the Chief of the Air Staff announced a concession for Air Women of the rank of Warrant Officer and above, granting them greater flexibility in residential choices to enhance family unity and overall welfare. The visit also featured an inspection of newly constructed housing units and the base hospital complex, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to continuous infrastructure development and improved healthcare delivery for personnel and their families.
During the walk-through, Air Marshal Aneke paused for a quiet, touching moment to check on an old bosom friend who is now wheelchair-bound following a stroke, underscoring the enduring bonds of community and shared history that define life within the Nigerian Air Force. More than an exercise of command authority, the visit stood as a powerful reminder that leadership is strongest when rooted in compassion, memory and shared aspiration, inspiring a new generation to believe that their dreams are valid and achievable.
