In a historic milestone for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Governing Council of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has approved the appointment of Air Vice Marshal OC Ubadike as a Professor of Aerospace Engineering — making him the first-ever serving officer in the NAF to attain professorship.
In a statement, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said Air Vice Marshal Ubadike, an accomplished scholar and seasoned military professional, holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University, United Kingdom.
He also boasts three additional Master’s degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), alongside a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Electronics Engineering from NDA. Notably, he played a key role in the development of the indigenous NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a project showcasing the Air Force’s growing technological capabilities and strategic autonomy.
In a related development, the Governing Council also announced the appointment of Air Vice Marshal (retired) Paul Jemitola as Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Professor Jemitola, a former Commandant of AFIT and a leading expert in aircraft design optimization, holds a Master’s degree and PhD from Cranfield University. He is a chartered engineer in the United Kingdom and currently serves as Acting Vice Chancellor of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos.
The appointments reflect the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who has prioritized technological advancement through education, capacity-building, and robust research and development. “We will continue to invest in the empowerment of our flagship training and capacity development institutions to progressively minimise dependence on foreign expertise,” the CAS emphasized.
This move reinforces the NAF’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and indigenous innovation, aimed at meeting the nation’s evolving aerospace and security challenges.
