The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its currently training its Works Specialty personnel at National Institute of Construction Technology (NICT), Uromi, Edo.
Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adesanya stated that 50 NAF personnel were participating in the training programme which would last four months.
He added that the personnel were undergoing training in specialised fields such as plumbing and pipefitting, power and domestic electrical engineering, surveying, as well as masonry.
He noted that “the training programme is an initiative of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who had continued to place emphasis on capacity building, being prerequisite for optimum service delivery.
“It is noteworthy that the ongoing training of the works personnel marks the first time NAF will conduct proper basic training for airmen/airwomen of the Works Specialty.
“In the past, some of the personnel deployed to the Works Specialty were qualified tradesmen, while many required basic training in specialised fields.”
Adesanya noted that most works personnel had not been receiving the required formal training and hence relied on on-the-job training to function in the service.
Consequently, the desired level of professionalism to meet the nation’s contemporary security challenges had been largely missing in NAF works personnel, he added.
He explained that the training was designed to add value to the skill and knowledge already possessed by NAF works personnel, as way of enhancing service delivery.
“In addition to facilitating smooth career progression for NAF works personnel, the expertise that the training at NICT provides would be handy in barracks maintenance.
“With increased construction activities across NAF units, the services of well-trained artisans are needed for quality output, especially in the execution of direct labour projects,” he said.
Adesanya said NAF planned to train a total of 200 works personnel at NICT, with the current set of 50 trainees forming the first batch.
“On completion of the training of the first batch, another batch of 50 personnel is expected to train at the institute.
“The training of NAF personnel at NICT is one of the numerous ways NAF is partnering with local institutions to enhance capacity building, with cost saving implications for the nation.”