It was a moment filled with cheers, reflection and warm nostalgia on 2 February 2026 as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, returned to his childhood residence at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos.
The visit, which formed part of the CAS’s official inspection programme, took on a deeply personal tone as he walked through the same corridors and residential flats where he spent more than a decade growing up. Residents, particularly youngsters and mothers, poured out in excitement as the Air Chief retraced paths that shaped his early life, transforming the inspection into a powerful encounter between past and present.
Air Marshal Aneke visited the flat units where he lived with his father, who rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Air Force and retired with distinction as an Air Warrant Officer. At each stop, he warmly greeted residents and shared vivid recollections of life on the base, reflecting on the values of discipline, service and perseverance instilled in him from an early age. He noted that his journey stood as proof that humble beginnings within the NAF community can lead to the highest levels of leadership through hard work and dedication.
The emotional highlight came as excited youngsters gathered around the CAS, chanting their admiration and expressing their desire to emulate him. In response, he encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to their dreams, assuring them that their present environment could shape an extraordinary future, just as it shaped his own. A visibly moved mother used the moment to remind her child of the importance of education and perseverance.
In a people-focused policy gesture, the CAS announced a concession for Air Women of the rank of Warrant Officer and above, granting greater flexibility in residential choices to promote family unity and welfare. The visit also featured inspections of newly constructed housing units and the base hospital complex, underscoring ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and living conditions across NAF formations.
During the walk-through, Air Marshal Aneke paused to visit an old childhood friend now wheelchair-bound following a stroke, sharing a quiet moment that highlighted the enduring bonds within the Air Force community.
SpyeTV News described the visit as more than a routine inspection, noting that it underscored a leadership style rooted in compassion, memory and shared aspiration—leaving a lasting impression on residents and inspiring a new generation within the Nigerian Air Force.
