UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development

UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development

- The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) is willing to partner with the Nigerian Air Force

- The partnership is focused in the area of training as well as Research and Development

- The Vice Chancellor of the institution reiterated its readiness and capability to collaborate with the NAF to ensure it continues to successfully accomplish its constitutional tasks

The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has expressed its willingness to partner with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the area of training as well as Research and Development (R & D).

This is geared towards supporting the NAF in effectively carrying out its statutory role of defending the nation.

The Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Benjamin Ozumba, stated this on Wednesday, January 24, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development
Professor Ozumba in a photograph with the CAS during the visit. Photo credit: NAF

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The Vice Chancellor stated that the university decided to partner with the NAF because of its giant strides in R & D and the consistent display of professionalism in the discharge of its role.

While commending the NAF for its efforts towards attaining self reliance, Professor Ozumba added that the NAF is one of the Government agencies that are obviously in tune with the changes in the 21st Century.

UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development
The UNN Vice Chancellor hailed the NAF as a 21st century Air Force in tune with modern technologies. Photo credit: NAF

According to him, the world has gone beyond the era of commodity driven economy to a knowledge-based economy. He added that the efforts of the current NAF leadership at improving the knowledge base of its personnel, through sustained R & D activities, were indeed commendable.

The Vice Chancellor therefore reiterated the readiness and capability of the institution to collaborate with the NAF in all aspects of R & D to ensure that the NAF continues to successfully accomplish its constitutional tasks.

UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development
Cross section of senior NAF officers at the event. Photo credit: NAF

He further disclosed that the UNN had been consistently ranked number 1 in the Google Scholarly Search in West Africa, for the past 3 years, a testimony of the university’s commitment to academic endeavours.

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He also announced the plans of UNN to establish a science park towards advancing technological knowledge. Additionally, Professor Ozumba seized the opportunity to invite the NAF to be part of the institution’s Innovation Conference scheduled for February 2018.

UNN seeks partnership with NAF in Research and Development
Officials of the UNN and the NAF signing the partnership agreement on Research and Development. Photo credit: NAF

Responding, the CAS stated that the NAF would be willing to partner with UNN in the area of aircraft maintenance, building technology and other relevant fields. Air Marshal Abubakar further stated that the NAF had, over 5 years ago, identified the need to partner with academic institutions in Nigeria.

Accordingly, the NAF had already signed Memoranda of Understanding with 15 other Nigerian universities and the partnerships had started yielding several benefits, especially in the enhancement of NAF’s aircraft maintenance capacity.

The CAS, therefore, stated the readiness of the NAF to participate in the establishment of the science park at UNN. He also promised that the NAF would be adequately represented in the institution’s upcoming Innovation Conference in February this year.

The CAS has already directed that a team of appropriate NAF officers from the Air Force Research and Development Centre as well as from the Air Force Institute of Technology, both in Kaduna, be composed to visit UNN with a view to identifying specific areas of potential partnership between both organizations.

Meanwhile, the NAF on Friday, January 19, commissioned another Bell 412 helicopter for subsequent operational deployment.

The newly commissioned helicopter is one of the 2 handed over to the NAF by the federal government in 2017, with the first having been inducted into the NAF in November 2017.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force acquires new airplanes from Pakistan military

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Source: Legit.ng

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