Pulse.ng : Mangal to deliver Air Force Institute convocation lecture, as 775 graduate

Agency Reports

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), said it would hold its 2022/2023 convocation ceremony with 775 students on June 10.

The Commandant of the Institute, AVM Paul Jemitola said at a press briefing on Thursday in Kaduna, that foremost businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal will deliver the convocation lecture.

The lecture has the theme `The youth: A Panacea for Innovation, Technology and development’.

He said the lecture was meant to inspire the youth to rise up to the challenge of nation building by using and deploying technology to chat better future for themselves and the country.

He added that Dike Chukwumerije, a spoken word artist and renowned public speaker will be the keynote speaker.

The commandant said that 775 graduated with Bachelor and Masters degrees, National, Higher and Postgraduate Diplomas in various disciplines.

“In addition, 1,816 students were admitted into various degree and diploma programmes for the current 2022/2023 academic session,” he said.

Jemitola said his vision was to transform AFIT into a global centre of multi disciplinary academic and research excellence, providing prime technical manpower of the Nigerian Air Force.

“To drive this vision are 5 cardinal keys which include, to engender a driven and motivated workforce and to produce globally competitive graduates in the emerging technologically driven markets.

“Others are to pursue cutting edge research, foster mental and physical wellbeing of staff and students, and sustain drive for acquisition, maintenance of equipment and infrastructure.”

According to him, in pursuit of the vision, several projects have been undertaken to give the Institute a facelift, and improve the living and working conditions of staff and students.

The projects included the installation of solar street lamps, construction of two kilometre road to male and female hostels, walkways, provision of solar panels to faculties, and administrative headquarters.

“In addition, 11 number of departmental, faculty, sport, multiuser laboratory and residential buildings are at various stages of completion.

” This is to improve the carrying capacity of the University as it increases in numerical strength of staff and students,” the commandant said.

Jemitola said AFIT has recorded immense strides in research and development.

He said one of its main project is the AFIT Light Trainer Aircraft (ALTA).

“The ALTA is an aircraft project to meet a maximum take-off mass of 850kg, with a capacity for 2 passengers, a maximum payload mass of 40kg and a 10m wing span.

“It is to be powered by a Lycoming IO-360 engine and would have a maximum operational flight time of about 5 hours.

” It would be capable of a maximum forward speed of 120 knots and a range of 453 nautical miles.”

He added that the ALTA would have a maximum operational altitude of 10,000 ft.

“It will feature state of the art technology such as graphene material for coating structural components, integrated vehicle health monitoring system and advanced avionics equipment.

“In pursuance of the ALTA project, six competitions were organised to engender collective ownership and buy-in of all staff and students.”

The competition included AFIT to the world-promotional video clips, hackathon-software design of various innovations, artificial Intelligence and Robotics-use of AI to design robotic machines.

The Commandant said AFIT is a unique university which has the singular mandate to train military and civilian students in aerospace, defence, engineering.

“It is the lone university that has a blend of design, maintenance and security curriculum for both the military and civilian aviation industry,” Jemitola said.