The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have agreed to intensify collaboration to strengthen security and improve learning conditions in schools across the country.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, made the commitment during a courtesy visit to UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, on 1 December 2025 in Abuja. He described education as the foundation of a safer and more secure nation, stressing that the NAF remains committed to safeguarding the learning environment.
Aneke highlighted the Air Force’s expanding involvement in educational development through its 33 schools—20 primary and 13 secondary—which serve both military and civilian communities. “Our responsibility extends beyond protecting communities to nurturing the future of the Nigerian child,” he said.
He noted that a stronger partnership with UBEC is crucial to addressing emerging security threats affecting schools, while also advancing teacher training, digital literacy, facility upgrades, and the deployment of modern safe-school technologies. According to him, aligning NAF schools with UBEC’s digital learning platforms and reinforcing joint quality assurance frameworks will further secure vulnerable learning environments, especially in conflict-prone areas. “A well-educated child today becomes a productive citizen tomorrow,” he added.
In her response, UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Aisha Garba welcomed the renewed collaboration, praising the Air Force’s contributions to national development beyond its defence mandate. She emphasized that education and security are interdependent, noting that “no education system can thrive without safety, and no security framework is complete without education.”
The strengthened alliance signals NAF’s continued commitment to the national Safe School Programme and the broader Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child—military or civilian—has access to quality education in a secure and supportive environment.
