The University of Ibadan (UI) and Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School (MMASS) have emerged as the winners of the 13th National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2024) and Air Transport Youth Empowerment Seminar.
The grand finale took place on May 25, 2024, at the Training Hall of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Mr. Oyedele Philemon of UI and Miss Olubode Testimony of MMASS were declared winners after a rigorous oral defense of their written essays.
The competition, which was themed “Unveiling Today’s Talents for Future Opportunities,” aimed to discover hidden talents in the aviation industry. The tertiary institutions category focused on the topic “The Use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Developing a Workable Solution for Nigeria and Africa,” while the secondary schools category wrote on “The Role of Artificial Intelligence In Future Air Transportation.”
The founder and national coordinator of NTEC, Mr. Ewos Iroro, emphasized the importance of embracing technology in the aviation industry, citing the application of Artificial Intelligence and the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel as key areas of focus.
The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by Mrs. Christabel Eromosele, commended the organizers for their efforts in building and developing the youth, and bridging the gap in manpower needs of the aviation industry.
A panel of independent assessors, chaired by Mr. Basil Agboarumi, evaluated the written works and oral defenses of the participants. The winners received cash prizes sponsored by Airline Logistics and Management Limited (ALML) and OAS Helicopters.
In the tertiary institutions category, Mr. Oyedele Philemon won N150,000, while Miss Olubode Testimony won N100,000. In the secondary schools category, Mr. Amoo Titoluwa of University of Lagos (Unilag) won N100,000, and Miss Ekuma Onosewo of Princeton College, Surulere, won N60,000.
The keynote address, delivered by Mr. Alex Nwuba, highlighted the significant concern about projected workforce shortages in the aviation industry, particularly in the areas of Pilots, Maintenance Technicians, and Air Traffic Controllers.
He emphasized the need for a mix of Knowledge Skills and Attitudes (KSAs), Digital Competence, Cognitive Flexibility, Continuous Development, and Discipline to succeed in the industry.
The event was sponsored by several organizations, including GHI Assets, SAHCO, Sabre West Africa, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and OCP International.