Amidst escalating costs of doing business in Nigeria, no thanks to the poor value of the naira, Convener of the Aviatrix Youth Empowerment Programme (AYEP), Mrs Victoria Adegbe, has alerted that the cost of training dispatchers, cabin crew and others will increase from next year.
In an address yesterday (Thursday, November 21) at the maiden edition of AYEP held at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Adegbe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Aviatrix Hub, an aviation training institute located in Lagos, however, assured that the academy is partnering with industry stakeholders, aviation agencies and airlines to provide scholarships to intending aviators.
Emphasizing the importance of training support staff to ensure safety in the aviation industry and the need for more flight dispatchers among others, Adegbe said: “For intending trainees, there is going to be an AYEP entrance examination. Successful candidates could be lucky enough to get 50 per cent or full scholarship depending on certain requirements.
“We have partnered TeachaHolic to achieve this.
“Other partners include Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Flight Dispatchers Association of Nigeria, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Leadstream Elin Group.
“It is no longer news that the cost of training in 2025 will increase, hence, the need to ensure that our youths get the necessary support and assistance they need to achieve their goals in aviation.”
Adegbe said the aviation industry is in need of trained personnel and there would, therefore, be jobs for trainees.
The Aviation Inspector, in charge of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licensing at the NCAA, Mr Joseph Ameh, said his office is open to guide the trainees.
Ameh commended the convener for proactive steps, and urged aviators to adhere strictly to NCAA regulations.
He also said that Aviatrix Hub, as a certified approved training organisation, has the support of the NCAA.
Chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer of Tobykemsworth Real Estate, Dr Adekunle Moneyin, said he would also support the initiative.
Moneyin said it had become necessary to get youths off the streets and make them self-reliant, pointing out that training a youth would lead to empowering more people.
The Chief Executive Officer of Elin Group, Dr Elizabeth Jack-Rich, represented by the Operations Officer of the organisation, Mr Daniel Ayuba, said the need for training in the industry could not be over-emphasised.
Emphasizing the importance of the training, she said that flight dispatchers are needed in large demands but “we are in short supply.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Executive Officer of TeachaHolic, Mr Oluwaseun Adeyemi, and MamaJ of MamaJ Aviation Consult also applauded the AYEP initiative.
The news agency also reports that Dispatch Resource Management, Customer Service, Cabin Crew, Basic Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Course, Flight Dispatch are all part of the courses to be offered.
