By Victor Akaa.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s aerospace capabilities through strategic partnerships by renewing its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lagos State University (LASU).
Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, Director Public Relations and Information, NAF, said in a statement the development emerged during a courtesy visit by LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, to the NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
During the visit, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff, emphasized the significance of collaborating with academia to enhance indigenous aerospace engineering capacity.
He praised LASU’s Aerospace Engineering Department as a vital player in Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
The partnership, which began in 2013, aligns with Air Marshal Abubakar’s Command Philosophy, focusing on research and development, cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and lessons learned.
The renewed MoU will drive advancements in aerospace engineering through joint research, projects, conferences, and staff exchanges.
The CAS noted that the collaboration aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign partners by providing workable solutions to meet national aviation needs.
Earlier, Professor Olatunji-Bello expressed gratitude for NAF’s support, highlighting the partnership’s impact on establishing a world-class department.
He stated the significant of the collaboration, saint “This partnership will enhance our capacity to train the next generation of engineers and researchers who will tackle critical challenges in the aerospace sector.”
A key highlight was the donation of a decommissioned Air Beetle ABT-18 aircraft to LASU’s Aerospace Engineering Department as a teaching aid.
The gesture symbolizes the strengthening partnership between NAF and LASU, holding immense potential for Nigeria’s aviation future.
