AFIT Graduates 3,003 Students as Defence Minister Urges Patriotism, Innovation and National Service

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd), has urged graduating students of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Kaduna to uphold patriotism, innovation and excellence in contributing to national development.

In a statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force, the minister delivered the charge at AFIT’s combined convocation ceremony held on 28 March 2026. He was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah.

The minister described the ceremony as a significant milestone, noting that 3,003 students were awarded diplomas, degrees and certificates. He highlighted the achievement as notable, given that AFIT only became a degree-awarding institution in the 2018/2019 academic session.

He said the graduates were leaving not just with academic qualifications but as individuals entrusted with national responsibility, equipped with the skills needed to address Nigeria’s security and development challenges. He stressed that nation-building requires integrity, accountability and commitment, adding that progress depends on citizens applying their expertise with strong moral values.

General Musa also described AFIT as a centre of excellence in technological education and professional training, noting that the institute continues to produce skilled professionals critical to strengthening national capacity in science, technology and innovation. He urged the graduates to apply their knowledge in practical ways to drive development, saying patriotism is best demonstrated through discipline, excellence and service.

During the ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, who chairs the AFIT Governing Council, formally conferred degrees, diplomas and certificates on the graduates. Earlier, the Commandant of AFIT, Air Vice Marshal A.K. Ademuwagun, commended the support of the Nigerian Air Force and other stakeholders, reaffirming the institute’s commitment to producing skilled and disciplined manpower.

The minister also encouraged the graduates to uphold the values of the institution and act as worthy ambassadors, while commending the institute’s leadership and staff for their role in advancing technological and security development. He congratulated parents and guardians for their support and urged the graduates to remain focused and committed to national service.