The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke has said that the Nigerian Air Force is deepening collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to strengthen school safety across the country.
During a visit to UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba in Abuja on Monday, Aneke described education as ‘the foundation upon which a safer and more secure Nigeria is built’, noting that security agencies and education authorities must strengthen joint action due to evolving threats targeting schools.
He noted that the air force operates 33 schools nationwide – 20 primary and 13 secondary – serving military and civilian communities.
‘Our responsibility extends beyond protecting communities to nurturing the future of the Nigerian child’, Anekee said.
He said the air force is improving teacher development, digital literacy and school infrastructure across its institutions.
He added that a broader partnership with UBEC would expand access to technology-enabled learning and safe-school systems.
‘A well-educated child today becomes a productive citizen tomorrow’, he said.
Aneke listed planned areas of cooperation to include school expansion, teacher training, digital education integration and joint quality assurance.
He also welcomed collaboration under UBEC’s safe school programme to improve monitoring and protection of schools, especially in high-risk areas.
Garba said UBEC is ready to strengthen technical cooperation with the air force.
She said, ‘no education system can thrive without safety, and no security framework is complete without education’.
She commended the air force for supporting national development ‘beyond its defence mandate’.
The UBEC boss said the partnership will reinforce resilience, improve learning and enhance security in the basic education sector.
