Eastwing Youth Foundation, an initiative of Eastwing Aviation Institute, has partnered with LoFish Global Travel & Tours Ltd to launch the Face of Eastwing Competition and South East Aviation Summit 2025.
The initiative, aimed at bridging the glaring gap in aviation representation among South East youths, was recently unveiled in Enugu. It is scheduled to culminate in a grand event in August, with compelling prize offers and opportunities for participants.
Addressing journalists at the LoFish head office in Enugu, Eastwing Aviation Institute’s Deputy Provost, Dr Baba Lola Segun Abioye emphasised the urgent need for regional self-determination in aviation development.
“We, in the South East, need to stop waiting for the Federal Government to transform the aviation sector. Must we continue going to Sokoto, Kano, Canada, or India to find aviation personnel? These people don’t have two heads. If our youths are properly trained, they can compete favourably with anyone globally. What’s more, a Nigerian aviation license allows you to work anywhere in the world,” he said.
He decried the over-reliance on expatriates in the aviation industry, noting that these are roles that the South East youths could fill with the right support and training.
Echoing the sentiment, Ifunanya Okonkwo of the Admin/Head of Marketing of LoFish Global Travel & Tours Ltd, said: “We are supporting this project because we believe that exposure and education will carry the dreams of South East people across borders.”
Theme, ‘Growing Dreams: Touching Lives in Aviation through Human Development,’ the initiative is a strategic movement to combat underrepresentation and create sustainable pathways through scholarships, mentorship and industry exposure.
Organizers anticipate over 5,000 applicants from across the Southeast at the grand event in Enugu in August. Fifty selected candidates, aged 18 to 30, will undergo intensive pre-training in aviation and hospitality. It will be narrowed down to the top 10 during the summit’s first day, with the final winner crowned Face of Eastwing 2025 on Day 2, serving as an ambassador for youth empowerment in the region.
The grand prize includes a full aviation scholarship at Eastwing Aviation Institute. Additionally, the top five finalists will receive free visa assistance to any country of their choice, courtesy of LoFish Global Travel & Tours. All finalists will benefit from exclusive internships, mentorship programme and certifications designed to launch careers in aviation, hospitality and tech. Other incentives include brand endorsements, media features and special recognition awards.
The competition is open to South East indigenes and residents, including graduates, tertiary institution applicants and first-year students.