It was cheery news for the Management of the Institute on the 27th of November, 2023 when the Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe disclosed that the Air Force Institute of Technology will soon commence its degree Programme in Aircraft Maintenance.

AVM Rabe stated this during the collaborative visit of the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) to AFIT. CATIC, a Chinese state-owned defence company involved in aviation technology came to seek areas of collaboration with the Institute. According to AVM Rabe, AFIT had plans to provide infrastructure which would be fully equipped before the next academic session beginning in September, 2024.

He added that AFIT was highly suitable and capable of entering into a staff exchange programme for the benefit of both entities. He however remarked that it was imperative for AFIT staff to first assess the quality of aircraft and mechatronic equipment available in China to know if what was available fits into the needs of the Institute. Earlier, the leader of the Chinese delegation and Chief Representative of CATIC Nigeria, Mr Lioa Xun had stated that the visit was to assess the facilities in AFIT in order to establish a vocational technical centre where aircraft maintenance would be domesticated for the benefit of both countries.

He added that among the members of the Chinese entourage were Professor Ma Chao and Professor Wang Cheng Hao from Chendu Aeronautic Polytechnic which was the best Polytechnic in China in the area of aircraft research. The visit afforded both parties the opportunity to assess the course curricula of each school with a view to finding areas of collaboration and possible signing of Memorandum of Understanding. It would be recalled that AFIT is the only accredited institution of higher learning in Nigeria that offers degrees under the National Universities Commission and diplomas under the National Board for Technical Education.

Prominent among the Commandant’s team were the Deputy Commandant, AVM AO Shoghanmu; Provost, Professor Mahmoud Dauda; Registrar, Air Cdre MS Lawal; Dean, Centre for Technical and Vocational Training, Gp Capt OG Alabi; Liaison Officer, Gp Capt MH Akpan; and Director of Administration, Gp Capt JG Mudutgap. Others in CATIC team were Zhao Lue, Luo Xiao and Mr Wu Si.