At the 29th Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Ibrahim Ali Kachalla of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) outlined a strategic agenda to advance indigenous aerospace, space technology, and energy solutions.
Kachalla, who has mentored more than 4,000 students since joining AFIT in 2014, said the institute’s training has produced thousands of officers and engineers across West Africa with expertise in control systems, aerospace, and energy applications.
He highlighted AFIT’s COREN-accredited laboratories, research infrastructure, and legislative backing through the AFIT Bill, which secured both university and polytechnic status for the institution.
On collaboration, Kachalla cited AFIT’s work with NASRDA and NASENI to develop Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Nigerian Air Force’s surveillance, as well as its partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to conduct an energy audit that reduced campus power consumption by 30%. He added that AFIT is working to secure renewable-energy mini-grids under Nigeria’s 30:30:30 vision.
Looking ahead, Kachalla said AFIT will scale up UAV training, expand simulator-based learning, and deepen partnerships with space agencies for spacecraft control and operations.
