The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Kaduna is to commence degree programmes by September 2018.
This was revealed during the courtesy visit by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, to the National University Commission (NUC) in Abuja.
First degree programmes to be offered by the Institute include Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Automotive Engineering among others.
The Institute will also offer Masters Degree programmes in fields such as Aerospace Vehicle Design with Airframe, Power Plant and Avionics Options, in addition to other programmes.
While receiving the CAS, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its efforts that saw to the speedy passage and assent of the bill establishing AFIT.
He equally lauded the CAS for his vision, doggedness and commitment to the upgrading of AFIT to a degree-awarding institution.
Professor Rasheed acknowledged that there was need for a specialised university that is geared towards solving some of the peculiar technological challenges of the NAF.
He stated that AFIT would be expected to offer degree courses in fields such as computer security and cyber warfare in addition to other related conventional programmes towards enabling the country to develop those skills required for survival in the Twenty First Century.
The NUC boss stated that the Commission was aware of the strides already being made by AFIT in Research and Development as well as its successful collaborations with tertiary institutions within and outside the country.
He stated that the Commission was aware that AFIT admits and trains a sizeable number of civilian students.
He therefore expressed the willingness of NUC to closely work with the NAF to ensure that AFIT meets the criteria for upgrading to a degree-awarding institution.
The CAS praised the painstaking efforts by NUC to ensure standardisation of university education in Nigeria.
“The challenges of the Twenty First Century cannot be resolved without proper education”. Consequently, the NAF gives much credence to human capacity development,” Air Marshal Abubakar stated.
