The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has assured the Universal Basic Education Commission of the Nigerian Air Force’s renewed commitment to strengthening the security of schools across the country as part of efforts to curb emerging threats targeting learning environments.
According to him, safeguarding education has become a national priority, describing it as the foundation upon which a safer and more secure Nigeria is built.
A statement released on Monday by the service’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said Aneke gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, in Abuja.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to strengthening national education security through a strategic partnership with the UBEC,” the statement partly read.
He noted that the partnership between security agencies and education authorities had become imperative in the face of rising attacks on schools, adding that the NAF was investing in secure, inclusive, and technology-driven learning within its 33 schools nationwide.
These include 20 primary and 13 secondary schools that cater to both military and civilian communities.
“Our responsibility extends beyond protecting communities to nurturing the future of the Nigerian child,” he said.
Aneke explained that the Air Force had already begun rolling out initiatives to improve teacher development, digital literacy and school infrastructure across its institutions.
However, he stressed that stronger collaboration with UBEC would help scale these efforts nationwide, particularly through the deployment of safe-school technologies and modern learning systems.
He listed priority areas for partnership to include upgrades of NAF schools to accommodate more pupils, joint teacher training initiatives, integration of Air Force schools into UBEC’s digital education platforms and the establishment of collaborative quality assurance mechanisms.
He also welcomed deeper cooperation under UBEC’s Safe School Programme to strengthen monitoring and enhance security in basic education institutions, especially in conflict-prone areas.
Responding, Garba expressed UBEC’s readiness to deepen engagement with the Air Force, commending the Service for its contributions to national development beyond defence operations.
She noted that safety and education were inseparable, saying, “No education system can thrive without safety, and no security framework is complete without education.”
She affirmed the Commission’s commitment to technical collaboration that will strengthen school protection, improve learning outcomes and build resilience across Nigeria’s basic education system.
The engagement, according to the NAF, aligns with the national Safe School agenda and supports the Renewed Hope vision of ensuring that every Nigerian child, whether in military or civilian communities, can access quality education in a secure environment.
Aneke said partnerships of this nature were essential to building a safer and more prosperous Nigeria, where security and learning reinforce one another.
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