The institute is located within AFIT Complex in Kaduna.

The NASENI boss who disclosed this on Wednesday when the new Commandant of AFIT, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) S.L. Rabe paid him a courtesy visit at NASENI headquarters Abuja, congratulated the new AFIT boss on resumption of duty.  

AVM Rabe came to NASENI with AFIT Provost, Professor Dauda Mohammed; Director, Quality Assurance, AFIT, Dr I. Yahuza and Director of Projects, AFIT, Group Cpt Ahmed. He said his visit to NASENI was to congratulate the EVC on his appointment as well as touch base with him on the collaboration for the establishment of NASENI Institute in Kaduna.

He said it was an honour and he looked forward to strengthening ties with NASENI to develop AADVI and also fast track the on-going work on made-in-Nigeria helicopter. He promised to work with NASENI and asked that AFIT staff should be part of trainings for unskilled talents such as welding, etc. “I am of the opinion that the AFIT staff should be part of the NASENI trainings to gain knowledge from the trainings.”

Dr. Gwandu informed him that he was barely two months on the job since his appointment and that he has been visiting NASENI Institutes to see what some of them are doing. “Surely, our work with the Air Force and the military establishment are areas that I want to focus on because there are some of our key projects that AFIT is championing and that cooperation is very important to us in particular and to the country.”

He said the main reason for having the helicopter and the AAVDI is for Nigeria to be self-reliant in aviation technology, noting that there will be manufacturing of components for the helicopter and other aircrafts that NASENI can produce. “We can train people to learn to produce the components. “Iike I said, we have been looking at different components of aircrafts in particular and how we can penetrate that industry”

“We produce a lot of titanium in this country, as we know the body of aircrafts in particular use composite materials which do not work with aluminum as we all know because of corrosion. One of the key projects I am working on is getting a team to work on Titanium.

“I have companies that I am talking to courtesy of your colleague at NASENI. We will work with what we have to produce some of the parts. We have Institutes like HEDI in Kano that produce hydraulics that is needed in aviation. We are trying to form a team that we can train in different areas of aerospace such as satellites, down to aircraft aviation.

He said “one of the key projects we’ve discussed on Airbus is the MRO in Abuja. Instead of taking all our aircrafts out, we want to establish an MRO here so that we can do it here. Why Abuja is important is because it is centre of Africa. The distance to anywhere from Abuja is not more than five hours. It is the most central location and also not much rain activities as much as it is in other places”

On training on aircraft parts and systems including Avionics, he said NASENI was interested in developing that areas that were earlier mentioned. “We are just starting and we have to start from somewhere. We have to do something fast or else we will find ourselves lagging behind. Most of the advanced countries are making money mainly from high-tech that we do. We need to be there and compete with them. That is the thinking,” Dr. Gwandu added.

The Air Force Institute of Technology has already provided land/space for the construction of NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, including other necessary infrastructures for the smooth take-off of the projects; and also to provide counterpart technical team during aviation equipment installation and test-running.

The AFIT is also to provide training on helicopter piloting, maintenance of helicopters and development of Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) plans; provide counterpart technical team required for hangar development and testing as well as provide technical team for avionics and reverse engineering of Dynali helicopter.

On its part, NASENI would work with AFIT on prefabricated structures/homes in areas where there is deficiency, provide technical team with respect to setting up AFIT’s Laser Cutting machine and automation systems.

The Agency will also provide counterpart technical team required during skills acquisition programmes, hands-on training workshop, seminars, conferences and other trainings as well as provide AFIT recommended science kits. 

In December 21, 2021, a presidential order was given for relocation of the NASENI Made-in-Nigeria helicopter project to AFIT and also the establishment of the AAVDi within AFIT.

Prof. Mohammed Ajiya, the president of the DBI, congratulated the Commandant on his new posting as the 11th Commandant of AFIT.

Prof. Ajiya in his welcome remarks stated that DBI is open for collaborations and gave a brief history of DBI and the purpose of its creation.

The Institute’s President, according to a statement signed by Akin Ogunlade, head, Public Affairs Unit at DBI, noted that DBI is the training arm of the Nigerian Communications Commission mainly for up skilling human capital development in the field of telecommunications and ICT.

He noted that DBI stands out because it has campuses in the six (6) geopolitical zones of the country with standard infrastructure.

DBI is the only Centre of Excellence of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and also the second Centre of Excellence in West Africa.

He further explained that, on behalf of NCC, DBI offers training to tertiary Institutions in Nigeria and the other arm in the Secondary Schools and all those schools coordinated by NBTE, CCE and also NUC.

The President stated that, NCC solely sponsors this programme and a lot of institutions have benefitted from it.

He went further to announce that, DBI will be training 110 AFIT staff on ADAPTI programme this year. The only thing required from AFIT is a training facility equipped with computer for the practical aspect of the training at their convenience he added.

The AFIT’s Public Relations Officer, Wing Commander K Ali introduced the Commandant AFIT, AVM M.A Yakubu, and gave a brief history on his biography. He stated that the Commandant paid DBI a visit to strengthen the cordial relationship and collaboration between AFIT and DBI.

The Commandant affirmed that, AFIT has benefitted from DBI severally. He expressed the appreciation of AFIT for the 110 slots given by the PDBI for ADAPTI programme this year.

He went further that AFIT needs training capacity development for their teaching and non academic staff.

The Provost of AFIT, Prof. Mohammed Dauda requested that a Memorandum of Understanding should be signed to strengthen the bond between the two institutions to define the relationship.

The Commandant added that the Institute can also benefit from AFIT to avoid a one sided benefit. He went further that, DBI has highly qualified staff/ Instructors and in the aspect of accreditation they can be listed as visiting lecturers.

The President concluded the meeting by appreciating everyone and also agreed that both Institutes can achieve a lot together and assured that the DBI has a running MOU with the Nigerian Air Force and other paramilitary agencies.

He said the Institute is looking forward to a laudable collaboration with the AFIT.

The Institute has a well-equipped laboratory donated by Huwaei Technology which is capable of being used for research up to a PhD level.

The DBI’s management team in attendance at the meeting were, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Ajiya, President/CEO, Head of Corporate Services, Ms Viola Askia Usoro Head, Research lnnovation and Consultancy, Mr. Paulinus Ugwoke, and Head, Learning and Development, Mrs. Ngozi Nwoche.