…urges industry to prioritize youth talent for sustainable growth
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has called upon aviation industry stakeholders to intentionally identify, encourage, nurture, and cultivate young talents.
This plea aims to ensure a sustained influx of skilled manpower into Nigeria’s aviation sector, addressing the critical challenges of an aging workforce and potential knowledge gaps.
The Minister’s charge was delivered through the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Obiageli Orah during the Grand Finale of the 14th National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2025) and Air Transport Youth Empowerment Seminar.
The event, held on May 24, 2025, at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex in Ikeja, Lagos, focused on the theme: “Navigating Career Entry Challenges to Secure the Future.”
Mr. Keyamo emphasized the global regulatory nature of the aviation sector, underscoring the necessity for stakeholders to implement measures that continuously attract high-quality human resources.
“Programmes such as this are avenues through which we can breed, nurture, and harvest such human resources,” he stated, commending Travel and Business News for their significant contributions in this area.
The Minister further highlighted the pressing issue of an aging and retiring workforce, which leads to widened knowledge gaps and operational challenges within the industry.
He expressed confidence that initiatives like NTEC are designed to make aviation more appealing to younger generations, encouraging them to pursue careers in the sector.
NTEC’s Impact and Industry Support
NTEC Founder and National Coordinator,Mr. Ewos Iroro, revealed that the initiative, established in 2009, has successfully encouraged young Nigerians to consider careers in aviation, travel, and tourism while fostering greater awareness and support for air transport.
He proudly noted that NTEC has already produced numerous young talents now actively contributing to various aviation fields, citing the recent achievement of a past winner, Miss Adeola Peace, who earned her Masters Degree as an Aeronautical Engineer.
Representative of the Director-General, Civil Aviation Captain Chris Najomo, Barr. Olubukola Teriba, the Regional Manager Lagos, praised the event’s theme for reflecting the shared concerns of young Nigerians aspiring to join the aviation, tourism, and transport industries.
The DGCA acknowledged the common barriers to entry, including limited access, mentorship, financial constraints, and skill mismatches, and lauded the organizers’ dedication to youth development and aviation advocacy.
Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, echoed these sentiments through Mrs. Obiageli Orah, calling NTEC a crucial “breeding ground where many of our young ones have first encounter with the aviation world.”
She affirmed FAAN’s continued support for such programs, recognizing their unquantifiable benefits in nurturing future aviation professionals.
Competition Highlights and Future Aspirations
The NTEC 2025 essay topics covered “The Role of Public Perception on Airlines’ Safety Performance” for the secondary schools category and “The Security Implications of AI on Air Travel and How to Mitigate Them” for tertiary institutions.
A panel of independent assessors, chaired by Mr. Alex Nwuba, President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria, evaluated both written entries and oral defenses.
In the tertiary institutions category, Miss Olatunji Deborah Taiwo of the University of Lagos emerged as the winner, securing a cash prize of N150,000.
Mr. Patrick Onyekachi Favour of Lagos State University and Mr. Vincent Ikechukwu Maduka of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, placed second and third, receiving N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
For the secondary schools category, Abdulazeez Fatimoh Ajoke of Abesan Senior High School claimed first place and a N100,000 prize. Patrick Chidiebere David of Abiolu Comprehensive College came in second with N70,000, while Akinyoola Roqeebah Morenikeji, also from Abesan Senior High School, secured third place and N50,000.
All top finalists received goodie bags courtesy of South African Airways (SAA). Also, Ali Francisca Uwamaka of Queens College, invited to write an essay on the seminar’s theme, won the “Young Aviation Enthusiast” spot, reading her essay to the audience and receiving a N10,000 cash prize and a goodie bag.
In a gesture to further motivate participants, Mrs. Obiageli Orah offered rewards to students aspiring to become pilots, recognizing their interest in aviation.
The event’s pinnacle was a cake-cutting ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Travel & Business News and commemorating the birthdays of May-born attendees.
NTEC 2025 received robust support from key industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), South African Airways (SAA), Airline Logistics and Management Limited (ALML), OAS Helicopters, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, GHI Assets, Sabre West Africa, and OCP International.
