30th November, 2024
The Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sani Rabe, has issued a stern warning to the 1,524 students matriculating for the 2024/2025 academic session, declaring that any student found involved in illicit drug use will face expulsion.
Speaking at the 8th combined matriculation ceremony held in Kaduna on Saturday, AVM Rabe emphasized the institution’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug abuse.
“We will conduct periodic random testing of students to ensure no involvement in illicit substances. Any student found guilty will be expelled from the institution,” he said.
AFIT, which began with just 520 students in the 2018/2019 academic session, has grown significantly in recent years. This year, 1,164 students were admitted for degree programs out of 3,316 applicants, while 278 students were accepted for diploma programs from 773 applicants. Additionally, 82 students gained entry through Direct Entry from a pool of 206 applicants. This growth represents a remarkable 100% increase in student admissions, a testament to the growing prestige and appeal of the institution.
Rabe credited AFIT’s ongoing expansion to its commitment to academic excellence and strategic initiatives that continue to raise its profile. “This surge underscores the growing prominence of AFIT and the overwhelming interest from aspiring students,” he said.
The Commandant urged the new students to uphold the values of integrity, respect for authority, and discipline, which are fundamental to AFIT’s ethos. “The matriculation ceremony symbolizes not only the beginning of your academic pursuits but also your commitment to the ideals and principles of AFIT,” Rabe said, wishing them a fulfilling academic journey marked by personal growth and success.
In his remarks, the Provost of AFIT, Prof. Auwal Kasim, outlined the institute’s significant transformation. Established 40 years ago to meet the Nigerian Air Force’s technical and logistical needs, AFIT was upgraded to a university in 2017. It is now a “Polytechnic University,” the first of its kind in Nigeria, offering both diploma and degree programs, as well as postgraduate studies.
Prof. Kasim reiterated the institute’s commitment to maintaining high standards, particularly concerning discipline. “AFIT operates a zero-tolerance policy on violence, indiscipline, cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse, and improper dressing,” he warned. He also congratulated the new students, urging them to be ambassadors of AFIT’s quest for excellence.
The ceremony was a celebration of both academic aspirations and the core values that define AFIT’s mission to provide cutting-edge education while advancing technological development for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation.
The Commandant also took the opportunity to thank the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, for his leadership and continued support, which he credited as instrumental in the institute’s success.
