Air Chief Abubakar Charges Junior Course 99 Graduands On Innovation, Jointness
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has charged Junior Course 99 graduands of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to lead with courage and humility, to embrace innovation, and foster jointness as they advance in their careers.
The CAS gave the charge on Friday, 20 June 2025, while delivering an inspiring address as the Special Guest of Honour at the graduation ceremony.
In his speech, the CAS, while congratulating the graduands, he noted that they had taken a critical step in their journey towards strategic leadership, and stressed that the “Passed Junior Staff Course” designation signifies not just academic success, but a call to “higher service, better judgement, and greater responsibility.”
Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, he urged the officers to be courageous in questioning outdated paradigms, to be adaptable, tech-savvy, and intellectually curious. “The battlefield of the future,” he noted, “will favour those who are agile and decisive.”
Air Marshal Abubakar emphasised that leadership is rooted in character, humility, and the ability to inspire others. He called for increased collaboration across services and borders and commended the allied students for enriching the course through their diverse perspectives.
The CAS also praised the AFCSC leadership and entire staff for their mentorship and acknowledged the enduring support of President Bola Tinubu. He urged the officers to be leaders their troops can follow with confidence and their nation can trust.
The event marked the end of months of intensive academic and military training for junior officers from Nigeria and allied nations, celebrating their achievements and reaffirming their commitment to leadership, service, and national security.
It concluded with the presentation of awards to outstanding officers across the Services for their exceptional performance. Among the awardees was Flight Lieutenant TS Gbassa, a distinguished female pilot, who received the prestigious Chief of the Air Staff Award in recognition of her excellent performance during the course.
