The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated its pioneer set of young officers in Strategic Communication Operations, marking a significant step in strengthening the Service’s non-kinetic warfare and information operations capabilities.
The officers completed the Basic Information Young Officers Course (BIYOC) 1/2026 after undergoing three months of intensive and specialized training at the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Administrative Management (NAFIAM).
The milestone, achieved on 2 April 2026, reflects the strategic vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to deepen the NAF’s capacity in modern information warfare and strategic messaging.
With the completion of the course, the newly trained officers are now equipped to handle key functions in psychological operations, strategic communication, social media engagement, influence operations, counter-narrative campaigns, and public relations support across operational theatres.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Special Guest of Honour and Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Adebayo Kehinde, described the information domain as an increasingly vital theatre in contemporary warfare.
He said the ability to shape perceptions, project credible narratives, and disseminate compelling imagery swiftly and accurately has become central to the Nigerian Air Force’s soft power strategy and overall mission success.
Air Vice Marshal Kehinde commended the pioneering course curriculum, describing it as a timely and strategic institutional response to the changing demands of modern military communication.
According to him, the training has provided the officers with the intellectual and practical skills needed to design, coordinate, and execute high-impact communication strategies, in line with the CAS’s key enabler of standardizing training and building mission-focused capabilities.
Also speaking, the Commandant of NAFIAM, Air Commodore Isaiah Taiwo, described the graduation as a historic milestone in the development of specialized manpower for the Nigerian Air Force.
He said the pioneer graduands are well prepared to take on frontline strategic communication responsibilities and expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff for his consistent support for institutional capacity development.
The newly graduated officers were also charged to uphold discipline, loyalty, professionalism, and continuous self-development as they prepare for deployment into the increasingly complex information environment.
The graduation of the first set of officers in Strategic Communication Operations underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to communication excellence and highlights its drive to build a future-ready force capable of operating effectively in both the physical and cognitive dimensions of modern warfare.
