Ime Akpan
The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Chris Najomo has charged graduates equipped with academic credentials but are often unsure of how to transition into meaningful work or skill-building opportunities to consider taking up careers in aviation.
He gave the charge in Lagos on Friday in a speech he presented to youths drawn from two airport host communities – Mafoluku and Ejigbo – who attended a two-day workshop on ‘Aviation up-skilling development programme (AUDP): Empowering the future of Nigeria aviation.’
Najomo who was represented by the director of human resources and administration, Dr. Anastasia Gbem, said opportunities exist for young people in the aviation sector and urged the participants to position themselves and take advantage of the openings.
“The aviation industry is one of the most dynamic and multidisciplinary sectors in the world. It is not just about pilots and flight attendants. Aviation is made up of highly technical roles, regulatory oversight, airport management, safety assurance, environmental compliance, logistics, information technology, engineering, law, finance, and much more,” he said.
The director-general further told the 20 participants that the AUDP initiative was meant to honestly and constructively discuss the real opportunities that exist in aviation and how young graduates could position themselves to take advantage of them (opportunities).
He said the attendees could avail themselves of careers in air traffic services, aeronautical engineering/aircraft maintenance and airworthiness, flight operations and cabin crew, aviation security and safety, regulatory affairs, drone technology (RPAS), airport operations and planning, meteorology, ICT and digital systems, and artificial intelligence and data analytics in aviation, among others.
“Every one of these areas needs people, killed people, committed people like you,” Najomo said.
However, Najomo said the AUDP “is not an overnight solution; it is a growing initiative aimed at helping young Nigerians, particularly graduates, understand and begin to navigate their way into aviation.”
For a start, he enjoined the participants to have the knowledge of the aviation sector, the roles of regulatory bodies like the NCAA and other aviation parastatals like NAMA, FAAN, NCAT, NiMet and NSIB, pick a skill area instead of trying to be the master of everything, build digital competence, attend webinars, build network purposefully and stay informed.
The director general also said character is important in aviation.
“Aviation is not just technical; it is a sector where discipline, precision, accountability, and ethics are non-negotiable. These values will matter just as much as your qualifications. Build habits of integrity, punctuality, clear communication, and respect for rules. These qualities will distinguish you wherever you go in this industry,” he added.
In her speech, the regional manager, Lagos regional office, Mrs Olubukola Teriba the AUDP “is coming at a crucial time for the industry to tackle unemployment and address the shortage of skilled professionals in the growing aviation sector.”
She said hosting the programme “aligns with the NCAA’s broader vision to build a suitable and globally competitive aviation sector in Nigeria which will prepare and equip the Nigerian youth with specialised technical knowledge needed to confidently step into the array of jobs available within the industry thereby creating job opportunities, reducing unemployment and enhancing Nigeria’s image in the international community.
Teriba explained that the NCAA is not only a custodian of safety, security and economic oversight, but is duty bound to ensure inclusivity, access to opportunities and a sustainable future workforce for our industry.
She reminded the attendees of the challenges faced by Nigeria on how to create jobs for youths, skilled workers in the aviation sector.
“So, this initiative will fill in the gap to prepare young Nigerians by equipping them with technical knowledge which will prepare them to take up jobs available in the aviation industry,” she .
The AUDP is to encourage and guide aspiring beneficiaries to start by learning about industry’s structure, roles of the regulatory body like NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, airport operation or drone operation skills in aviation. These are progressive initiatives,” Teriba added.
