Meet the New Chief of Air Staff: Benue-Born Indigene of Enugu, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Nigeria’s new Chief of Air Staff (CAS), marking a significant step in the ongoing reorganisation of the country’s military leadership.

Born on February 20, 1972, in Makurdi, Benue State, Air Vice Marshal Aneke is an indigene of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. He began his education at the Army Children School, New Cantonment ‘A’, Kaduna, between 1976 and 1982, and proceeded to Government College, Kaduna, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1987.

In September 1988, Aneke gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 40th Regular Course and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Nigerian Air Force on September 10, 1993.

Aneke is known as a scholar-soldier, combining military professionalism with academic excellence. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar. He earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; a Master’s in Political Economy and Developmental Studies from the University of Abuja; and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College, Air University, Montgomery, Alabama.

Throughout his distinguished career, he has held several key command and administrative positions, including Admin Officer at the Aircraft Overhaul Centre, Ikeja; Logistics Officer at the 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna; and Commanding Officer, Base Services Wing, Air Maritime Group, Benin. He also served as Commander of the 307 Executive Airlift Group, Abuja; Director of Safety and Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters; and most recently, Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Aneke has represented Nigeria internationally, serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), where he gained vital peacekeeping and operational experience.

An accomplished pilot, he has logged more than 4,300 flying hours on various aircraft types, including the Air Beetle 18, Dornier-228, Citation-500, Falcon-900, Gulfstream V/550, and Hawker-4000.

Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke is married to Mrs. Ngozi Enderline Aneke, and they are blessed with three sons — Chukwuebuka, Ifeanyichukwu, and Uchechukwu.