NAF Provides Free Holiday Music Training For Children of Personnel

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has introduced a free holiday music training programme aimed at providing the children and dependents of its personnel with opportunities to develop musical skills while also engaging productively during the school break. The initiative, which ran from August 4 to August 30, 2025, was organised under the supervision of the Directorate of Music and conducted across several NAF bases nationwide. It was specifically designed for children between the ages of six and seventeen, offering intensive lessons on musical instruments, music theory, and performance techniques. Instructors from the NAF’s music squadrons facilitated the sessions, blending both group and individual coaching to ensure that each participant gained practical knowledge and confidence in handling instruments. According to the NAF, the programme is a reflection of the welfare-driven leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who has continued to emphasise that the wellbeing of personnel and their families directly influences the force’s overall effectiveness. The service explained that the holiday music training not only kept children meaningfully occupied during the long vacation but also fostered creativity, teamwork, and discipline, which are values consistent with the NAF’s principles. Beyond entertainment, officials pointed out that musical education is widely regarded as a tool that enhances cognitive abilities, emotional stability, and social interaction among young people. By creating access to such opportunities at no cost, the NAF said it was investing in the future of its personnel’s children while also reinforcing its commitment to family-oriented welfare projects, which include scholarships, educational support, and healthcare programmes. Parents and guardians of participants welcomed the initiative, describing it as both timely and impactful. They expressed appreciation to the NAF for prioritising the welfare of families and providing a structured environment for their children during the holiday. Some of the children also shared their excitement at learning new instruments and performing in groups, with many noting that the training had boosted their confidence and sparked interest in pursuing music further. The NAF has indicated that it will assess the success of the maiden edition of the training and consider replicating and expanding the scheme across more bases in future. The force also assured that similar welfare-driven initiatives would continue to be implemented to support both serving personnel and their families. Through this effort, the Nigerian Air Force has not only given children of its personnel an avenue to discover and nurture new talents but has also reinforced its broader vision of welfare, family support, and human development as integral to its mission and values.