Nigerian Air Force gets first Professor

The Governing Council of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has appointed Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Osichinaka Ubadike, a serving officer in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), as the first-ever Professor of Aerospace Engineering.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, said the appointment represents a significant milestone for the NAF, further enhancing its research and development (R&D) efforts.

He said the development makes Ubadike the first-ever serving officer in the NAF to be conferred the rank of Professor.

“AVM Ubadike, a distinguished scholar and military professional, holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He also earned three other Master’s degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in addition to a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Electronics Engineering from the NDA,” Ejodame stated.

He noted that Ubadike has led numerous innovative research projects within the NAF, including his crucial contribution to the development of the indigenous NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a key demonstration of the Air Force’s advancing technical capabilities and pursuit of strategic autonomy.

Ejodame also announced that the AFIT Governing Council confirmed the appointment of retired AVM Paul Jemitola as a Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Prof. Jemitola, the former Commandant of AFIT, is highly regarded for his expertise in multidisciplinary and multi-objective aircraft design optimization.

“Prof. Jemitola holds both a Master’s degree and a PhD from Cranfield University, and played a leading role in the NAF UAV project. He is a chartered engineer in the United Kingdom and currently serves as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management in Lagos,” he added.

The NAF spokesperson emphasized that the appointments reflect the commitment of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, to advancing technological progress through education, capacity building, and R&D.
Air Marshal Abubakar stated, “We will continue to invest in the empowerment of our flagship training and capacity development institutions to progressively minimise dependence on foreign expertise.”
Ejodame concluded that this approach underscores the NAF’s dedication to academic excellence and innovation, aimed at fostering homegrown expertise to address evolving national security and aerospace challenges.