Yesterday, after sharing my reflections on my son Muhammad’s matriculation into 100 Level, B.Eng. Aerospace Engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, many readers reached out to know more about this unique and not-so-popular institution. Their curiosity prompted me to write this post, not just about AFIT, but also about two other equally outstanding institutions — the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and Ahmadu Bello University Distance Learning Centre (ABU-DLC) — that are redefining higher education in Nigeria in quiet but remarkable ways.
1️⃣ Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna
AFIT’s story is both inspiring and instructive. It began in 1977 as the NAF Technical Service School (TSS), was upgraded in 2004 to award OND (Ordinary National Diploma), and was renamed AFIT in 2008. For years, it awarded OND and HND qualifications until 2017, when it transitioned into a degree-awarding institution, now offering undergraduate, postgraduate diploma (PGD), and master’s programs in engineering, computing, and sciences.
Both civilian students and military officers are admitted, though the officers mostly pursue OND and HND programs.
Pros
✅ No ASUU strikes! Although it’s a public institution, AFIT is not affected by ASUU actions. Some graduates claim that AFIT covers nearly three semesters in a single year, allowing students to graduate faster than their peers elsewhere. Whether or not this is fully accurate, one thing is certain — steady academic progress and timely graduation are guaranteed.
I recall my undergraduate years at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) between 1999 and 2004 — a period that witnessed a cumulative 16 months of ASUU strikes, delaying our graduation by over a year. Imagine the relief of knowing that your child’s education won’t be interrupted!
✅ Affordable tuition: AFIT’s fees are comparable to those of other public universities. For instance, I paid ₦116,000 for Muhammad’s registration and ₦20,000 for the acceptance fee.
Cons
❌ Highly competitive: This year, only candidates who scored 200 and above in JAMB were invited for the post-UTME. For Aerospace Engineering, the cutoff was around 240 (60%), derived from the combined average of UTME and post-UTME scores. It’s arguably AFIT’s most competitive course.
❌ Name confusion: Some hesitate because it’s called an institute, not a university. But remember, the world’s top-ranked university — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — also doesn’t carry “university” in its name. The name does not define the quality.
AFIT currently has four faculties — Air Engineering, Ground Engineering, Computing, and Sciences.
Courses like Aerospace Engineering, which combines both Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, are offered — a program even the great ABU does not have yet.
When Muhammad told me he wanted to study Aeronautical Engineering, and we couldn’t find it anywhere close by, I advised him to choose Aerospace Engineering instead. It’s broader, more versatile, and aligns perfectly with his passion.
💡 A word to parents: please don’t force your children into fields they are not interested in. Instead, expose them to multiple disciplines — medicine, law, engineering, computing, sciences, business, etc. — and let them choose their own paths. Guide, don’t dictate. Many bright minds lose their passion because they were compelled to chase their parents’ dreams, especially medicine, not their own.
👉 For more details on AFIT, visit: https://afit.edu.ng/home/
2️⃣ The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna
Many people think NDA is exclusively a military training ground — but that’s an outdated assumption. Today, NDA is a full-fledged university with five faculties, offering undergraduate and postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) programs to both military officers and civilians.
Its faculties include Engineering, Sciences, Military Science, Arts & Social Sciences, and Management Sciences.
Like AFIT, NDA does not experience ASUU strikes, making it a dependable institution for uninterrupted learning.
Interestingly, NDA offers some unique programs not available in other public universities — for instance, Psychology, which even ABU does not offer at the undergraduate level.
👉 For more details, visit: https://nda.edu.ng/
3️⃣ Ahmadu Bello University Distance Learning Centre (ABU-DLC)
This is another innovative model under the prestigious ABU. The Distance Learning Centre (DLC) allows students to study from home — through video lectures, WhatsApp sessions, and weekend online classes — while writing exams physically at centers across Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Dubai, and more.
It offers both undergraduate and master’s degrees, including programs in Economics, Business Administration, Nursing Science, Computer Science, and the popular MBA.
A beautiful feature of the ABU-DLC program is that its certificates are identical to those issued to regular students — there’s no mention of “distance learning” on them.
Pros
✅ No ASUU strikes.
✅ Accelerated study pace: You cover three semesters per year, which means a 4-year program can be completed in less than 3 years.
Cons
❌ Cost structure: It may seem more expensive since students pay per course, but compared to private universities, it’s still very affordable — especially for working professionals who can study flexibly.
👉 For more details, visit: https://abudlc.edu.ng/
Final Thoughts
Nigeria’s higher education system still offers hidden gems for those who seek quality, stability, and flexibility. AFIT, NDA, and ABU-DLC stand out as models of what’s possible — institutions that combine public accountability with private-sector efficiency, all while remaining accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
For me, this journey feels like a full circle — from a young undergraduate who entered ABU with the lowest JAMB score in my class but graduated at the top, to now watching my son walk confidently into AFIT to begin his own engineering dream.
May Allah continue to guide our children, bless their efforts, and grant them success that will surpass ours.
Addendum
I just confirmed that NDA opens its undergraduate courses to cadets only.
