The Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety (NAFIS), Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State, has successfully graduated 21 students from its Basic Aircraft Accident Investigation Course 1/2025.

The training, which commenced on February 25, 2025, culminated in a graduation ceremony held on March 7, 2025.

Among the graduates were six civilians from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), two officers from the Nigerian Army, two from the Nigerian Navy, and eleven Air Force officers.

Speaking at the event, Commandant of NAFIS, Group Captain Abdulkadir Bello, underscored the significance of the training, describing it as a step towards self-sufficiency in aviation safety training.

“The graduation of this course is the first of its kind since the Institute relocated back to Ipetu-Ijesa from Kaduna in 2022.

“In the past, we relied on foreign training for investigators and aviation safety personnel.

“Localizing safety training allows us to train more personnel at a lower cost while providing hands-on experience in our environment,” he stated.

Bello urged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the training, stressing that aircraft accident investigation is crucial to ensuring aviation safety.

“The skills you have acquired here will enhance your professional competence and contribute to the safety of the aviation sector in Nigeria and beyond.

“You are now ambassadors of safety, and we expect to see your impact in your respective organizations,” he added.

Director General of the Air Force Research and Development Institute, Air Vice Marshal Pius Oahimire, who was the Special Guest of Honour, described the graduation as a milestone in Nigeria’s aviation safety sector.

“The importance of aircraft accident investigation cannot be overstated. It ensures accountability, prevents future occurrences, and enhances the safety of air travel,” he noted.

He commended the collaboration between military and civilian personnel in the training, stating that it had produced a new generation of safety experts for Nigeria and the sub-region.

“Apart from producing accident investigators for the NAF, sister services, and civil organisations, this Institute has raised a new stream of safety thinkers who will enhance safety standards in both flight and ground operations,” Oahimire said.

He further charged the graduates to integrate their newly acquired knowledge with their professional experiences and become more safety-conscious to tackle emerging challenges.

Air Vice Marshal S. Peter, Chief of Staff at the Headquarters Mobility Command, Nigerian Air Force, described the maiden edition of the training as extensive.

“This is the first time we’re having such extensive training for accident investigators. Expectations for each participant are very high.

“We expect them to advance the frontiers of safety in the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian aviation sector as a whole,” Peter remarked.

He urged them to put their training to good use and implement the principles learned to enhance aviation safety in the country.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Captain Alex Bade Jr., represented by the Director of Transport Investigation, Engineer Abdullah Babanya, lauded the achievement of the Institute, noting that this was the first full aircraft accident investigation course conducted in Nigeria.

Babanya encouraged the graduates to apply the training principles in their respective careers and uphold professionalism.

Special Adviser to the Osun State Government on Security, Barrister Samuel Ojo, also advised the students to remain diligent and share their expertise with others.

The best graduating student, Squadron Leader Diji Pam from the 433 Engineering Group in Kainji and Commanding Officer of the Jet Engine Overhaul Wing, expressed gratitude to NAFIS for the training, assuring that future investigations would be conducted thoroughly with the knowledge gained.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of certificates and awards to outstanding students for their excellent performance.