In line with the Chief of the Air Staff’s command philosophy of Deliberate Training and Mission-Oriented Force Development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully graduated a new cohort of personnel from its Intermediate Chinese Language Course.
The training, conducted in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre, took place at the National Defence College, Abuja, and is aimed at fostering cross-cultural competence and deepening international military cooperation. Representing the Chief of Air Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Dalhat Ladan, the Director Counter Intelligence and Security, Air Commodore EC Ukpong, described the graduation as a strategic initiative to reinforce NAF’s global engagement and operational effectiveness through language and cultural intelligence.
The graduation ceremony also featured remarks from Mr Liu Zhanping, Deputy Director of the China Cultural Centre, who lauded the NAF for its visionary commitment to military diplomacy. “Language is not just a tool, it is a gateway to mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation,” he emphasized.
Lead Chinese instructor, Ms Zhang Yaping, received special commendation for her exceptional guidance in facilitating both linguistic proficiency and cultural immersion.
The event underscored the growing strategic partnership between Nigeria and China, highlighting shared efforts in defense collaboration, capacity development, and people-to-people ties.
