By Sumaila Ogbaje, NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says his utmost concern remains the safety, wellbeing and academic excellence of all students of Air Force comprehensive and secondary schools nationwide.
Abubakar said this while interacting with the Commandant and some staff of Air Force Comprehensive School, Iyana-Offa in Ibadan, Oyo State.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Thursday in Abuja.
The CAS warned that any attempt to infringe on such priorities would not be tolerated.
He also warned that any act of negligence on the part of commandants, staff or instructors in charge of NAF schools nationwide, that could lead to injury or threat to life of any student would not be tolerated.
According to him, it is their responsibility to follow laid down guidelines as well as other means, in identifying red flags that may indicate gaps or lapses within school environments so as to forestall avoidable incidents or tragedies.
“I will not condone any act that will lead to injuries or the death of any of our students.
“The NAF remains dedicated and committed to providing a conducive learning environment, ensuring the overall development of students, and empowering them to reach their full potential,” he said.
Abubakar tasked commandants and staff of NAF schools to always ensure they put the interest of the students first before any other interest.
He said that NAF’s investment in education was a vital aspect of its welfare package, aimed at supporting the families of personnel as well as those of civilians, while also contributing to the nation’s human capital development.
’’It is also part of its soft power strategy aimed at endearing it to the populace and enabling it to engage with the civil populace through the provision of affordable and qualitative education for their wards.’’
The CAS during the visit inspected ongoing renovation works at the students’ hostels and classrooms of the school, as part of his wider phased School Intervention Strategy.
He said the intervention was to holistically renovate, upgrade and carry out repairs in NAF schools across Nigeria.
According to him, NAF currently runs 13 secondary schools nationwide consisting of nine boarding and four day schools with a total strength of 11,177 students.
’’NAF also runs 21 primary schools spread across the country with a total strength of 13, 758 pupils.
“Its oldest secondary school, Air Force Military School, Jos, was established in 1980, while its oldest primary school, Air Force Primary School, Ikeja, was established in 1976.
“Currently, the NAF is building additional schools at NAF Bases located at Abuja, Bauchi, Kaduna and Igbara-Oke in Osun State, all expected to come on stream by September 2024,” he said. (NAN)