NAF promotes music as an instrument of peace, unity

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is leveraging the power of music to strengthen civil-military cooperation and foster national unity. Declaring open the 2025 NAF Music Personnel Workshop in Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, emphasized that music remains a strategic soft-power tool for building trust, enhancing public engagement, and projecting national pride. The workshop, themed “Music as a Tool for Winning Hearts and Minds for Enhanced Civil-Military Cooperation in Support of Nigerian Air Force Operations,” brought together band commanders and music specialists from NAF formations across the country.

Represented by Air Commodore Christopher Akpa, Director of Enabling Operations at the Civil-Military Relations Branch, Air Marshal Aneke noted that the role of military bands has evolved beyond ceremonial duties to become an essential part of modern operations. He explained that winning the hearts and minds of citizens is as vital as winning battles on the field, adding that the NAF now complements its kinetic operations with cultural engagements, community outreach, and musical diplomacy. He urged participants to uphold professionalism and excellence in their performances as ambassadors of discipline, unity, and service.

Earlier, the Director of Music, Group Captain Ayodeji Ayanbode, highlighted that the annual workshop, now in its fourth edition since the creation of the Directorate of Music in 2019, aims to enhance the competence of NAF music personnel. According to him, the programme underscores music’s unique role in morale building, fostering harmony, and advancing the NAF’s non-kinetic approach to national security. The workshop features technical sessions on music administration, performance standards, and public communication for operational effectiveness.