The Nigerian Air Force has hailed one of its senior medical officers, Group Captain A O Akinuli, for winning two top academic prizes at the West African College of Surgeons Scientific Conference in Accra, Ghana, describing the feat as a powerful endorsement of its investment in professional development.

Akinuli, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon trained with the backing of the Nigerian Air Force, emerged as a standout performer in the highly competitive 2025 Fellowship Examinations conducted under the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

According to the Air Force, his performance earned him two of the conference’s most coveted distinctions. He received the Prof Olayinka Otuyemi Prize for Best Dissertation Candidate in the 2025 Fellowship Examinations at first attempt, underscoring both academic depth and clinical rigour. He also clinched the Prof Emmanuel Oladapo-Adekeye Prize for the Best Dissertation in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a recognition reserved for work judged to be of exceptional scientific quality and relevance to surgical practice in the region.

The Service framed the achievement as a direct outcome of its deliberate push to build high-end expertise within its ranks. It noted that Akinuli’s success “reflects the Service’s deliberate investment in excellence and advanced professional training,” highlighting years of structured support for his specialist education and research.

Air Force authorities further linked the double honours to the leadership vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, whose command philosophy prioritises continuous learning, competence and mission-focused professionalism. By that account, Akinuli’s performance is not an isolated triumph but part of a broader strategy to align military medical capability with global best practice.

Beyond personal accolades, the Nigerian Air Force stressed that the recognition enhances its profile across West Africa as an institution that nurtures innovation, scholarship and professional distinction. The Service argued that such achievements demonstrate that its role extends beyond air power and security operations to include meaningful contributions to regional healthcare and specialist training.

Officials added that the honours signal the growing influence of Nigerian military medicine within the sub-region, positioning NAF medical personnel as key contributors to surgical research, advanced clinical care and the mentoring of future specialists in West Africa.