Follow Us on Google
- As United Nigeria Airlines signs MoU with ABUAD on Aeronautical, Aerospace Engineering training
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Chief Executive Officer and founder of United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, Prof. Obiorah Okonkwo, has called for a strong collaboration between Nigeria’s political leaders and academic institutions to tackle the nation’s challenges.
Okonkwo stated this at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between United Nigeria Airlines and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti(ABUAD), where he commended the founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) for his huge investment in education and for changing the narratives in the country’s education system through the delivery of quality and functional education.
United Nigeria Airlines was the first airline to commence commercial flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State.
The partnership agreement between the two parties is expected to run for a renewable period of ten years where about twenty 400-level students of the College of Engineering, ABUAD will be trained in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering annually by United Nigeria Airlines under the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
Okonkwo said, “What is here in ABUAD is a typical example of what private sector contributions to our economic can develop. This is a university of 16 years old. This is an individual investment. This is not about trillions of naira investments. This is a prove that private sector manages things better than government. And I have always been a strong advocate that most of our national problems political leaders of this country can find solutions in academic institutions.
“There is a great disconnect between our political leaders and intellectuals. Great countries whether it is China, Russia, America, are what they are today because they support institutions of higher learning.
“President John Kennedy once said that America will send someone to the moon. He didn’t say so because he was an Engineer, he didn’t say so because he was an Astronaut, he said so because he knew he had great intellectuals in the higher institutions who will now transform his dream into reality and indeed that happened . Because at that point he was saying it those intellectuals never even thought about it. They didn’t know how to do it, but eventually because he said it they turned it to reality and today, men have gone to the moon. This is a typical example of what can be achieved in a country, in a partnership between institutions of this nature and political leaders.
“And I am telling them if it is time for them to hear this my advocate and try out something. I am recommending Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti as the first place they can start. Let them pick any national issue, whether it is even issue of legislative matter, legal matter, they can bring it to legal department of universities, let your intellectuals crack it and give government recommendations. If it is about economic issues, you have economic departments , bring it to them let those professionals crack it.
“I obtained my first degree from Friendship University, Moscow. There also, I did my Masters in Economics and then I moved to Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of International Relations and World Economics, where I did my PhD in Economics.
“But that is not the story. The story is that from my education and exposure in Russia, I am able to tell you that there are no political leaders without intellectual class. Among all the political leaders that have strong nations, I have not seen a president whose job in office is scientific research, but these countries make explosive equipment, this is because they first of all prioritise their intellectual and academic institutions. Let us not just wait to benefit from certificates from universities, just to employ them and they stay there under the direction of other political leaders. Let’s make better use of our institutions, especially, institution of this nature that understands the need for practical lessons.
“I am also a professor. I am a professor of practical, not a professor of theory, so, I believe that in every education and learning there must be a value, so, this day again, we are privileged to be among you. What we have come here to do is to share our own knowledge because some people here today see Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as only the physical thing. And when we talk about Corporate Social Responsibility you are trying to impact, help people, give them value from what you have to support what they need.
“But when they talk about it they don’t think about knowledge. Knowledge is the most powerful tool you can empower somebody with. So, that is why for me, I make out time from my business schedule to teach. I teach on pro bono basis. it is also part of my CSR to humanity.
“But apart from that, being in Ekiti here also, we recognised that you need both. Why we are adding this MoU today is to use all the facilities we have, make it open to the students to be better, and be more useful.
“We also, by tomorrow be breaking ground to build health centre and solar- powered borehole somewhere around the airport. We thought that since we have chosen Ekiti as a home, we made inquiries what other things we can do to support the effort of the community that brought us here and we got a feedback that they don’t have good health centre and water. These are what they want and we will do exactly what they want and we will break the ground before we leave Ekiti.
“And all these things wouldn’t have been possible without Afe Babalola University that supported the airport project that brought it to completion, one good thing must actually lead to another, that is what they call multiplier effect.
“For us in United Nigeria, we have one of the most robust maintenance departments in Nigeria aviation and we are growing it from strength to strength. We have moved from what they call some kind of equivalent maintenance system to AMO, which means very soon we are going to establish our maintenance centre and we are partnering with the best of maintenance companies in the world. And what we are saying is that at any time we want to advance this, we will find a way also to have a deeper cooperation with Afe Babalola University on how not only to wait for the engineers you will send to us, I know that with time we will be here to find out how we can also help you to prepare the engineers better internally. You deserve the support for the much you have done ”
Speaking on how United Nigeria became the preferred carrier to commence commercial flight operations at the Ado-Ekiti Airport.,Okonkwo said,
“One thing led to the other. By the decision of the governor of Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his team, after a very rigorous exercise they chose United Nigeria Airline as their preferred carrier to kickstart commercial flight to Ado-Ekiti airport. That was the decision they made because they have seen in us that we have exactly what they need, no other reason, no other consideration apart from excellence and merit.
” We felt really a nose spirit for Nigeria and we started thinking how can we be closer to this community and also use whatever is the outcome of this to let other Nigerians know that boundaries, geographies, tribes, do not matter. What matters is merit.
“As a matter of fact, it was only on that day of our flight to Ekiti that I realised that an integral part of our team, who is supposed to be here today but she is currently located in one of the European countries for training her name is Ronke, the cabin crew manager who started with United Nigeria from the first day. It was on that day of our flight I realised she is from Ekiti State. So, for us, we don’t look at who you are, where you come from, but what value you have, merit. This university shares this value we hold very very high. We are happy to be here.
” One of the speakers here said that Baba Afe feels this university has performed beyond expectations. Yes, we agree. And the person also said that it has reached the top. And for us in United Airline, we know that you are already above the top.
“This our small gesture of a choice to partner with this great university is out of our conviction that our brand and their brand share a lot in common. The Vice Chancellor enumerated in her speech the things that differentiate students of ABUAD from other universities. I am here also to give you testimonies that are beyond rhetorics. We are employee of labour. We do advertise for many positions at one time or the other and let me tell you if I see a resume from Afe Babalola University I keep it aside. The students from here have demonstrated that not only that they graduated with certificates but I can tell you that they are some of the applicants that made sense to me when I am making an interview, please, keep it up. As a matter of fact, we have some of them already in our employment and they are doing very well. In fact, the station manager of Benin is a graduate from this university .
” We are here actually on a corporate retreat because the first time I came on that flight recognising the special contributions you made to that airport , this is our fifth anniversary and we chose to be back to Ekiti. That would not have been possible without the airport. It would not have been possible without our first commercial flight to Ekiti. And as it is today, we have about 60 members of United Nigeria Airlines in Ekiti and we took over all the available rooms in Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and we have been here since the beginning of the week till Saturday.
In his remarks, the founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola(SAN), praised the CEO of United Nigeria Airlines for his giant strides in the aviation industry and his love for education. He also hailed the Airline company for identifying with the university, promising that the institution will keep to the terms of the partnership agreement.
” Today is one of the happiest days of my life. The founder of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof Obiorah Okonkwo, spoke without reading a paper and everything he said followed one another in a beautiful, masterly and organised manner. I know you all will be wondering in your minds, he said he is a flier, how come he speaks such masterful English? He spoke so deeply and his thoughts were well arranged. I developed massive love for you immediately.
” I am happy we are entering into an agreement with such a giant, a lover of our university and above all a lover of education. We are going to try to bring you closer to us in many ways. I do not want to disclose all of them, but I am going to disclose one or two now. With your permission and the permission of the Senate, I want to invite you to our next convocation lecture and you will be the lecturer of the day and the following day we will honour you with a degree of this university.
” One thing is clear, this man loves ABUAD and not only that, he loves education. The surest solution to our problems is education. I grew up in the farm, no regrets. I was poor, no regrets. I didn’t wear shoes until about 10 years after I left primary school and I was a teacher without shoes, no regrets. I did all my education at home, no regrets. My father was compelled by some catechists to send his child to school that was why he chose me and then it was not easy. The whole thing stopped in primary six. Every other degree I have were by private study. So, I therefore, believe in education. Education has been responsible in large measure for what I am today .
“I established ABUAD to build a new generation of Nigerians and we have been achieving this objective. I am very proud of what I am doing now and I am prouder because you are supporting me. We have students from all the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, here.We also have students who are non-Nigerians, from West Africa, from China, from America, from Europe, people apply in advance.
” You are happy to be the owner of an airline, I am also happy to be the owner of a university. We can both work together to bring up new Nigerians. I am appreciative of what you are doing for us. We will keep to the terms. We will improve on it as time goes on .”
Earlier in her opening address, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, hailed Okonkwo’s believe in education and how he has been using the industry to impact the lives of Nigerian youths. She noted that the partnership will help strengthen the relationship between United Nigeria Airlines and ABUAD, while boosting the nation’s education system
” Today’s occasion is a meeting of vision with purpose, a deliberate convergence of academia and industry, and a reaffirmation of our shared belief that education must go beyond theory to deliver real-world innovation of relevance and national impact.
” At ABUAD, our philosophy has always been clear : education must be functional, experiential, transformative, and impactful. We are committed to producing graduates who are not only intellectually sound but also industry- ready, technologically competent, and globally competitive.
” Under the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), about twenty 400-level students of our College of Engineering will be enrolled annually under the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme(SIWES) at United Nigeria Airlines. These students will undergo a robust, hands-on, and industry -driven training programme in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.
” The planned partnership is structured to run for a renewable period of ten years without any financial commitment from the university which represents a long-term investment in human capital development, skills transfer and the grooming of a new generation of Nigerian Aerospace professionals by our joint engagement.
” We are particularly honored by the presence of the Chief Executive Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiorah Okonkwo, a distinguished academic, visionary entrepreneur and a firm believer in education as a catalyst for sustainable national progress. Sir, we do not take this partnership for granted.
” This initiative is fully funded by United Nigeria Airlines, owned by a philanthropist and visionary Nigerian from Anambra State, who has looked beyond geography to recognise excellence, legacy and genuine investment in education. Despite his demanding schedule, he has chosen to identify with the noble work our dear Chancellor is doing here in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
“Notably, United Nigeria Airline also became the first airline to commence commercial flight operations into Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, thereby turning your long-cherished dream of air connectivity for your birth city into a living reality within your lifetime.
” United Nigeria Airlines, though a business enterprise, has demonstrated admirable faith in potential of Nigerian youths, particularly ABUAD students by choosing to invest directly in their training, exposure and professional formation
” Today, we stand as living witnesses to the resilience, determination, faith and vision of a man who without attending a conventional university, educated himself through correspondence and went on to build an institution that now offers life-changing opportunities to thousands. This partnership is yet another testament to his enduring belief in the transformative power of education.
“As we append our signatures today, we do so with optimism that, in the near future, this partnership will produce individuals equipped to assemble, manufacture, pilot and even build the most awaited made in Nigeria aircraft.
” I thank United Nigeria Airlines for this strategic alliance and commend all those whose efforts have made today’s gathering a reality. May this partnership flourish and serve as a model for productive university-industry collaboration.”
Some senior members of the management team of United Nigeria Airlines including the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, the Director of Administration, Linus Awute, one of the Board Members, Prof. Victor Madubuko and another member of the Board, Chiaka Ben-Obi, among others were present at the signing of the MoU between the two parties in Ado-Ekiti.
