The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reached a major milestone by appointing its first-ever serving Aerospace Professor. Air Vice Marshal OC Ubadike was confirmed as a Professor of Aerospace Engineering by the Governing Council of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). This appointment marks a significant step forward in the Air Force’s efforts to strengthen research, development, and academic excellence.
Air Vice Marshal Ubadike is a seasoned military officer and accomplished academic. He earned a PhD and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and Aerospace Vehicle Design from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. His academic journey also includes three additional Master’s degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), along with a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Electronics Engineering from the NDA.
Throughout his career, Ubadike has been a driving force behind several research projects within the NAF. He played a key role in the development of the indigenous NAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which highlights the Air Force’s growing technical strength and strategic self-reliance.
In addition to this achievement, the Governing Council also approved the appointment of retired Air Vice Marshal Paul Jemitola as a Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Professor Jemitola, who previously served as Commandant of AFIT, is well known for his expertise in multidisciplinary and multi-objective aircraft design optimization. He holds both a Master’s degree and a PhD from Cranfield University, led the design of the NAF UAV project, and is a chartered engineer in the United Kingdom. He currently serves as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management in Lagos.
The appointments of Professors Ubadike and Jemitola reflect the strong vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar. Under his leadership, the NAF is focused on technological advancement through education, capacity-building, and research. Speaking on the development, the Air Marshal emphasized the Air Force’s commitment to continually invest in its training and development institutions. His goal is to reduce dependence on foreign expertise and grow a pool of homegrown talent capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving aerospace and security needs.
