Stakeholders in the South-East, have urged youths from the zone to embrace opportunities in aviation as a way of reducing unemployment in the region.
They made the call during the South-East Aviation Summit/face of Eastwing competition, organised by Eastwing Aviation Institute, Enugu through the institute’s Eastwing Youth Foundation, in Enugu on Sunday.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, said southeast should be encouraged to be trained in the institute to enable them harness the opportunities in the aviation sector like youths of other zones.
He emphasised the need for governments, private sectors and well-meaning individuals from southeast to key into aviation by supporting and sponsoring youths to be trained in the institute.
Soliciting support for the institute, the royal father commended the founder, Dr Christopher Edeh, for establishing the school in Enugu for the training of youths in various aviation skills.
“I am proud of him and the summit is a game-changing event because what we can find somewhere else, we can find it in the Southeast and I congratulate the winner of the competition.
“So I am encouraging the philanthropists in the state and government to partner with them,” he appealed.
The Deputy Provost of the Institute, Dr Segun Babalola, explained that apart from boosting the economy of any society that embraces its development, aviation also create employment opportunities for the youths of such society.
He decried the number of Igbo youths that showed interest in aviation, revealing that less than 10 per cent when compared with the population of youths in other geopolitical zones of the country that are already trained and employed in aviation industry.
“We should remember that nobody will do it for us, we must stand on our legs and embrace the growing dream in aviation by empowering and develop our youths.
“The way technology is growing, it will be very difficult for any society without good human development in aviation to exist on the global map.
“Presently aviation has touched humanities in every aspect, and research and development in aviation is still having global recognition, hence, there is need for proper human development to move simultaneously with the supersonic speed of aviation sector development,” he said.
On his part, the Enugu East Council Chairman, Mr Beloved-Dan Aneke, pledged to partner with the institute to train youths from the area, saying his administration believed so much on human capital development.
The Traditional Rulers of Umuisu Ugbawka autonomous Community, Enugu, Igwe Sunday Nwobodo, while rally support for the school, called on Igbo youths to embrace soft skills training offered by the institute.
He thanked the founder and staff of the institute for finding him worthy to be among the recipient of leadership award, pledging to do more for the school.
Earlier, the founder, Dr Christopher Edeh, noted that aviation was not merely about machines, engines, or infrastructure but about people, their dreams, resilience, and pursuit of excellence.
According to him, human development is the true engine that propels aviation forward as very pilot, engineer, technician, air traffic controller, and administrator begin as a dreamer whose aspirations, when nurtured, become the wings of our collective progress.
“Today, we celebrate not only the growth of aviation in our region but also the remarkable journey of Eastwing Aviation Organisation, a vision that has now become the only existing privately-owned aviation institution in the South-East.
“This milestone did not come by chance; it was born of determination, partnership, and the unwavering support of visionaries who believed in the power of human capacity building,” Edeh said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event include the emergence of Ikechukwu Uyamadu as the winner of face of Eastwing competition and he was offered scholarship to study any course on aviation by the institute.
It also featured launching of Eastwing Aviation Institute magazine, presentation of awards and dance.