It was a moment of cheers, reflection, and warm nostalgia on 2 February 2026 as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, stepped back into the corridors of his childhood at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, Lagos, not as a young lad on the playground, but as the leader of the Nigerian Air Force.
His official inspection programme included a detour to his childhood residences, instantly transforming the visit into a deeply human encounter between past and present.
Residents poured out in excitement, particularly youngsters and mothers, as the Air Chief walked paths that once shaped his early life. His return stood as a living testimony that humble beginnings within the NAF community can rise to the highest levels of leadership through discipline, hard work, and unwavering dedication.
The CAS visited the flat units where he lived for more than a decade with his father, who rose through the ranks and retired with distinction as an Air Warrant Officer.
At each stop, he greeted residents warmly and extended kind gestures, echoing a similar visit to his childhood residence in NAF Base Kaduna last year. Standing in familiar surroundings, he shared vivid recollections of growing up on the base and spoke about the values of discipline, service, and perseverance instilled in him from an early age.
For many watching, it was more than a senior officer speaking; it was a reminder that greatness can grow quietly in ordinary spaces.
The emotional peak came as youngsters gathered around him, chanting, “We love you, sir, and want to be like you.” Smiling, the CAS encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to their dreams, assuring them that their present environment could shape an extraordinary future, just as it shaped his.
Nearby, a mother, visibly moved, reminded her son of the power of education and perseverance. In a people-focused policy highlight, the CAS directed a concession for Air Women of the rank of Warrant Officer and above, granting greater flexibility in residential choices to strengthen family unity and welfare.
The visit also included inspection of newly built housing units and the base hospital complex, reinforcing ongoing infrastructure improvements.
During the walk-through, the CAS paused to check on an old bossom friend now wheelchair-bound after a stroke, a quiet moment that underscored the enduring bonds of community.
More than an exercise of command authority, the visit stood as a powerful reminder that leadership is strongest when rooted in compassion, memory, and shared aspiration.