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By Christian Agadibe
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eastwing Aviation Institute, Dr. Christopher Edeh, has reiterated that educational initiative was motivated by the compelling need to provide young people with the opportunities and early exposure to aviation which previous generations did not have.
Speaking at the second edition of the South-East Aviation Summit Eastwing Youth Competition (SASEYC 2.0) Edeh reflected on his own experience in the Nigerian Air Force, saying that “young people should be introduced to aviation early enough to enable them make informed career choices, whether in piloting, aircraft engineering or other specialised areas of the industry.”
He noted that aspiring aviation professionals should not necessarily have to travel abroad before accessing quality training, stressing the importance of building credible and accredited training opportunities locally.
SASEYC 2.0 brought together more than 50 young participants, among who were secondary school students, aviation enthusiasts and stakeholders, to promote early exposure to aviation and encourage young people to explore career opportunities within the sector.
The event, held on October 3, 2026, at Bon Platinum Hotel, Enugu, Enugu State, was organised under the theme, “Advancing Youth Potentials Through Aviation Innovation and Excellence.”
The summit featured presentations and discussions from aviation professionals, educationists, industry leaders and other distinguished guests, who challenged young Nigerians to acquire the skills, discipline and qualifications required to compete in the global aviation industry.
Edeh also examined the history of aviation in Nigeria and the recurring challenges that have contributed to the collapse of several airlines over the years.
According to him, the sustainability of an “airline depends on several fundamental operational principles, including timely payment of workers’ salaries, strict replacement of life-limited aircraft components, continuous and mandatory retraining of pilots and engineers, as well as effective management of fuel and other operational resources.”
He commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for its regulatory role in enforcing safety standards and ensuring compliance within the industry.
He further highlighted Eastwing Aviation Institute’s partnerships with aviation institutions in Scotland and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which, he said, had helped “create opportunities for young people in the South-East to receive industry-relevant training closer to home.”
Father of the Day, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, Edeh for his foresight, patriotism and contribution to manpower development and the Nigerian economy.
Agubuzu encouraged young people to overcome their fear of flying, noting that air transportation is statistically among the safest forms of transportation.
He also stressed that aviation offers a wide range of career opportunities beyond becoming a pilot.
He identified aircraft maintenance engineering, cabin crew services, aviation and operations management, safety oversight, air traffic services, ticketing and passenger support, aviation security and administrative management among the career paths available within the sector.
He, therefore, encouraged young people to take advantage of specialised training opportunities and acquire relevant certificates and professional qualifications that can position them for sustainable employment in aviation.
In his presentation, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, Dr Ibrahim Bello Bashir, drew attention to the enormous global demand for aviation professionals and the urgent need to address the lack of awareness and skills among young people.
Bashir cited projections by Boeing indicating that the global aviation industry would require about 2.5 million personnel, including pilots, engineers, cabin crew and ground operations professionals, over the coming years.
He argued that Nigeria’s youthful population presents a significant opportunity if young people are equipped with the right technical and professional skills.
According to him, aviation opportunities extend far beyond the cockpit, noting that skills shortages have created situations where foreign nationals occupy roles that could potentially be filled by qualified Nigerians.
The founding partner of Aeropath and CEO of Ubuntu HR Consulting, Laure Jifack, focused on the shortage of technical talent within the African aviation industry, particularly in aircraft maintenance.
Jifack stressed that safe aviation depends heavily on engineers and certified maintenance technicians and noted the continent’s significant shortage of such professionals.
She said Africa would require approximately 24,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians by 2044, while existing regional training capacity remains insufficient to meet the demand.
She described the situation as both a challenge and an opportunity to build a strong, homegrown African aviation workforce.
She explained that Eastwing Aviation Institute and Aeropath could complement each other’s efforts by identifying talent early, creating accessible pathways into aviation and connecting young people with internationally recognised training and certification opportunities, including EASA Part 66 qualifications.
Jifack said the major challenge was not a lack of talent but limited access, pointing to the high cost of training, travel requirements and lengthy training periods as barriers preventing many young Africans from entering the aviation industry.
One of the most emotional moments of the summit came during the presentation of certificates to the top 10 candidates of the SASEYC 2.0 competition. The overall winner, Felix Favour Chinecherem, broke down in tears after her name was announced.
Chinecherem, who said she had dreamed of pursuing a career in aviation since she was 10 years old, expressed gratitude to God and everyone who provided her with the opportunity to participate in the competition.
In an emotional message to fellow young people, she urged them not to abandon their dreams because of challenges.
The convener of the summit, Christian Agadibe, CEO of Artmatazz Media, while reflecting on the growth of the initiative and the progress recorded since its first edition, noted that the inaugural SASEYC produced Uyamadu Franklin as its winner, who has since progressed to Abuja, where he is currently undertaking his industrial training in aircraft maintenance.
He said the journey demonstrated what could happen when young people are given exposure, guidance and opportunities at the right time.
