The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (NCAT) have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger collaboration in the area of capacity development and other projects in the aviation industry.
Spokesman for AIB-N, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi said in a statement that the two aviation agencies renewed the collaboration pledge yesterday when the rector of NCAT, Capt. Alkali Modibbo and his top management team visited the commissioner and chief executive officer of AIB-N, Mr. Akin Olateru in his office in Abuja.
He said the two agencies discussed areas of mutual benefits and collaboration that would further improve aviation safety and development.
In his remarks, Olateru announced that AIB-N would launch its world-class training facility that will be the first in Africa before the end of 2023.
He said the agency’s Training Centre located close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Abuja was about 90 per cent completed and should be ready at about the third quarter of 2022.
“AIB is setting up a training school which is the first of its kind in the history of Africa. That will be the first. It is a welcomed initiative. We have been talking to NCAT among great institutions in the world that teach aircraft accident investigation courses. We have worked on a curriculum and we will want us to revisit that because the training school is about 90 percent completed” he stated.
He also said the essence of the facility is to deepen training as AIB-N prioritises manpower development adding that the NCAT visit will deepen their collaboration on training.
The AIB-N Commissioner urged NCAT to create a platform for training all non-technical personnel in the aviation industry on aviation awareness appreciation programme
“This visit is in the spirit of collaboration. Training is extremely important in any organisation and that is what makes the organisation grow.
“Training is what has been central to what we do. So far, in the AIB, we have trained 48 of our staff at NCAT. Before the end of this year, we will be training 16 of our staff to have a private pilot license (PPL). The programme is starting February 14th this year.
“So far, we have trained 17 of our aircraft engineers at NCAT. We are currently having nine of our staff on students review.
“We have trained two of our air traffic controllers and two dispatchers at NCAT. Recently, one of the new units we set up, the command and-control centre also had seven staff trained on radiotelephony. So, it is a partnership that is growing” he noted.
Olateru urged the states and federal governments to be sponsoring students in NCAT as they used to do adding that this would enable children of poor background to benefit from NCAT training services.
Earlier, Modibbo had said it is significant that continuous synergy is maintained among associate agencies, considering the global challenges facing the aviation industry that requires tremendous innovation and dedication.
He also said AIB-N’s commitment to acquiring modern facilities and manpower development resonates positively with NCAT adding that NCAT was being re-equipped to remain at the forefront in aviation education.
The rector called for more patronage from AIB-N even as he appreciated the synergy between the two agencies in the area of capacity development.
Besides, he spoke on the efforts being made by the aviation college to enhance security on its campus adding that more than 40 armed security operatives had been deployed to man the institution’s security system.
According to him both the Kaduna State and the federal governments were working hard to ensure adequate security in the area.
