The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced a three-month Basic Information Young Officers Course (BIYOC) aimed at equipping young officers with the requisite skills to operate effectively in today’s information-driven and perception-sensitive warfare environment.
The pioneering course, which began on January 18, 2026, is being conducted at the School of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Institute of Administrative Management (NAFIAM), Kaduna. A total of 11 officers are participating in the programme, comprising 10 Flying Officers and one Pilot Officer drawn from various NAF units across the country.
The initiative reflects the training-focused vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke, DFS, whose Command Philosophy identifies capacity development as a critical enabler of operational effectiveness. The course is particularly significant against the backdrop of the evolving character of modern warfare, where information dominance and perception management have become decisive operational domains.
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The BIYOC represents a deliberate institutional shift by the NAF towards developing in-service capacity tailored to its unique operational, doctrinal and institutional requirements. Through the course, participants are expected to acquire competencies that will enhance the Air Force’s ability to communicate effectively, manage narratives and support operations in complex and dynamic security environments.
As part of the programme, the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Headquarters NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on January 21, 2026, delivered an interactive lecture to the participants. He charged the young officers to approach the training with intellectual rigour and an open mindset, noting that effective military communication now goes far beyond traditional journalism and media engagement.
According to Air Commodore Ejodame, contemporary military information operations encompass the strategic shaping of narratives in support of operations, in addition to skills such as scripting, photography and videography. He stressed that the ability to manage information and influence perceptions has become central to achieving operational objectives and maintaining public confidence.
In his remarks, the Commandant of NAFIAM, Air Commodore Isaiah Taiwo, commended the DOPRI for the timely and insightful engagement. He noted that effective communication remains critical to mission success in contemporary military operations and emphasised the need for young officers to internalise the lessons being imparted during the course.
The commencement of the BIYOC underscores a strategic and institutionalised effort by the Nigerian Air Force to deliver tailored, sustainable and mission-oriented training. The initiative is expected to enhance professionalism, strengthen civil-military relations and reinforce public trust in the Service, while preparing a new generation of officers to effectively navigate the information domain in support of national defence objectives.
