NAF unveils empowerment programme for children of serving, late personnel

The Nigerian Air Force, on Thursday, launched the Chief of the Air Staff Youth Empowerment Programme, an initiative designed to equip children of serving, retired, and deceased personnel with skills and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Speaking at the official launch, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said the programme was initiated to inspire youths.

Aneke described the launch as the ignition of hope, the unlocking of latent potential, and a renewed commitment to the welfare and future of Nigerian Air Force personnel and their families.

“Today’s event goes beyond the launch of a programme; it represents the ignition of hope, the unlocking of latent potential, and a renewed commitment to the welfare and future of Nigerian Air Force personnel and their families. As a Service, we recognise that the strength of any military institution lies not only in its operational capability, but also in the well-being, development, and empowerment of its human capital.”

He recalled that his father served as an Air Warrant Officer and that he spent his formative years moving between NAF bases.

The Air Force chief said he was determined to support the children of personnel affected by deployments, relocations, and the sacrifices that come with military service, adding that this conviction inspired the vision behind CASYEP.

Aneke said, “I spent my formative years moving from one NAF Base to another. I grew up within the same system that many of these young beneficiaries call home today. From that experience, I understand both the strengths and the limitations of barracks life. While it instils discipline, resilience, and a strong sense of identity, it can also present challenges associated with frequent relocations, limited exposure and fewer opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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“As I reflect on my own journey, I am reminded that many of my peers, equally gifted, equally determined, did not have the same opportunities. Some could not pursue higher education beyond secondary school level. Others completed their studies up to tertiary level but struggled to find meaningful employment, while a few drifted into negative vices.

“Their struggles and experiences left a lasting impression on me and strengthened my conviction that if opportuned, I will find a way to support the children of our personnel, who are brave men and women who bear the silent weight of deployments, relocations, and the sacrifices that come with military service. This is the reality that inspired the vision behind CASYEP.”

Aneke urged beneficiaries to embrace the opportunity, telling them that their background is not a limitation but a foundation that should fuel your determination to succeed.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Planning, Anthony Chukwuka, commended the initiative as “visionary and impactful” and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to policies that prioritise youth development.

According to the Minister, CASYEP represents “a deliberate and strategic investment in human capital development and, by extension, in the future of our nation.” He added that youth empowerment “is no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative,” stressing that nations which invest in their youth position themselves for long-term progress and stability.

The Minister further noted that the programme’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation aligns with the Federal Government’s broader push to reduce youth unemployment and build a skilled workforce across the country.