The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the country’s aerospace capabilities by renewing its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lagos State University (LASU).
This partnership underscores NAF’s commitment to fostering indigenous aerospace engineering through strategic collaborations.
The announcement was made in a statement issued to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, made the revelation during a meeting with a delegation led by LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, at NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that the renewed MoU is a pivotal step in operationalizing NAF’s broader strategic objective of enhancing technical collaboration with academic institutions to boost indigenous aerospace engineering capacity.
He commended LASU’s Aerospace Engineering Department, recognizing it as a crucial contributor to Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“CAS noted that the NAF’s collaboration with LASU, which started with the first MoU in 2013, aligns with one of the key enablers of his Command Philosophy, which is prioritizing R&D leveraging cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and lessons learnt,” the statement read.
The MoU, which was first renewed in 2018 for another five years, is now extended again in 2024. Air Marshal Abubakar reiterated the importance of strategic partnerships with academic institutions, stating, “Strategic partnerships with academia are essential for driving the future of aerospace engineering in Nigeria.”
He highlighted the need to utilize advanced technology and research to address the nation’s aviation requirements.
“The renewed MoU will drive advancements in aerospace engineering and related fields through joint research, projects, and conferences, as well as staff exchanges, to provide workable solutions that would ultimately reduce Nigeria’s over-dependence on foreign partners,” he added.
In her remarks, Professor Olatunji-Bello expressed her gratitude to NAF for its steadfast support of LASU’s Aerospace Engineering program.
“The University’s efforts to establish a world-class department have been significantly bolstered by the NAF’s collaborative approach. This partnership will enhance our capacity to train the next generation of engineers and researchers who will tackle critical challenges in the aerospace sector,” she stated.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of a letter by Air Marshal Abubakar, which conveyed the donation of a decommissioned Air Beetle ABT-18 aircraft to LASU’s Aerospace Engineering Department as a teaching aid.
“This aircraft will serve as an invaluable resource for hands-on training and research in aerospace engineering,” the statement noted.
The exchange of souvenirs between Air Marshal Abubakar and Professor Olatunji-Bello symbolized the strengthening of a partnership rich with potential for Nigeria’s aviation future. The statement concluded, “Collaborations between and amongst indigenous stakeholders are germane to Nigeria’s inherent capacity to harness and optimize technologies in the aerospace engineering sector.”
