South African Airways (SAA) marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary by hosting the Aviation Youth Forum at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Lagos.
Present at the event were students from Air Force Secondary School, Ikeja; Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando; Abesan Senior High School, Ipaja; Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja; and Princeton College, Surulere, who spent a day with aviation professionals to gain inspiration and guidance on charting their unique future career paths in the sector.
The event themed, “Finding Your Place in Aviation – Ask the Professionals” featured a lineup of guest speakers from the aviation industry, including representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Aviatrix Hub, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, and SAA. The speakers shared their insights and experiences, providing the students with valuable knowledge and inspiration.Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, Country Manager of SAA, emphasized the significance of aviation in Nigeria’s development, encouraging students to explore various career paths in the industry.
”Whether you dream of flying an aircraft, maintaining one, guiding it from the tower, designing airport systems, analyzing flight data; or you want to be in commercial sales, in travel and tourism, build drones, create travel technology or tell aviation stories like the journalists, there’s a seat for you in this industry,” she said.
She noted further that, “With over 25 years of commitment to youth development and empowerment in Nigeria. We have dedicated youth programs such as the SAA Secondary School Essay Competition, SAA Aviation Youth Forum and have partnered with organizations on several initiatives to guide and encourage innovation amongst the Nigerian youth. Nigeria celebrates 65 years of a nation that dared to fly, standing tall, resilient, and creative.
Independence Day reminds us that freedom is not just a date on the calendar; it’s the courage to dream, the discipline to prepare, and the determination to fly. That is the spirit of aviation, and that is the spirit of Nigeria.”
The keynote speaker at the forum, Mr. Alex Nwuba, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, advised students to become tech-fluent and think about long-term solutions in the face of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). “By the time most of you finish university, the world you will be prepared for will not be what you got prepared for. That is because of AI, and that is the reality that we must face,” he said.
The event concluded with a facility tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Control Tower. There, students witnessed air traffic controllers at work and gained very useful insight into the aviation industry.
SOURCE: THESUN