NCAA Mentorship Programme Exposes Students To Over 100 Aviation Careers
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has encouraged Nigerian students to explore the numerous career opportunities available in the aviation industry beyond the conventional roles of pilots and cabin crew members.
The call was made at the grand finale of the second phase of the NCAA’s Wings of Tomorrow Leadership and Mentorship Programme for the Southwest, held in Lagos, as part of efforts to promote early career awareness and develop the next generation of aviation professionals.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Service Delivery, Mrs Janet Oputa, said the future of Nigeria’s aviation industry depended on building a steady pipeline of skilled, competent and visionary professionals.
She noted that the expansion of airports, growth of airlines, modernisation of airspace infrastructure and emergence of new aerospace technologies would create increased demand for qualified personnel across various professional fields.
According to Oputa, the Federal Government’s ambition to develop a safe, competitive and globally respected aviation industry requires sustained investment in human capital, particularly among young Nigerians.
She described the Wings of Tomorrow initiative as a strategic national programme designed to provide students with the awareness, exposure and mentorship needed to identify and pursue career opportunities in the sector.
Oputa urged participants to take advantage of the programme by asking questions, engaging with experienced aviation professionals and demonstrating discipline and excellence in their chosen fields.
“There is a place for every talent and discipline in the sector, from engineering and science to law, finance, technology and management,” she said.
Earlier, the Director of Corporate Services at the NCAA, Dr Rebecca Eyiuche Aghadinazu, said the initiative was established to broaden students’ understanding of aviation careers, particularly those that receive less attention in conventional career discussions.
Aghadinazu, who described the programme as her brainchild, explained that the aviation industry offered more than 100 career paths, many of which remained unfamiliar to young Nigerians.
“When you mention aviation to our children, they only pick up two things — pilot and cabin crew. But aviation is a massive ecosystem of over a hundred careers,” she said.
She explained that the programme deliberately focused on public and government-owned secondary schools to address disparities in access to career information and professional guidance.
According to her, introducing students to aviation opportunities at an early age is essential to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading aviation hub in Africa.
Aghadinazu also disclosed that the first phase of the initiative had been completed in the North-Central region, with Abuja serving as the host location.
Representing the Director-General of the NCAA, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, the Lagos Regional Manager, Mrs Olubukola Aduragbemi Teriba, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to aviation awareness, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, mentorship and workforce development.
Teriba said the programme provided an avenue for experienced aviation professionals to share their knowledge with students and help them prepare for future opportunities in the industry.
She encouraged the participants to pursue their ambitions through continuous learning, discipline and integrity, adding that preparation would enable them to take advantage of opportunities when they emerged.
Also speaking, an Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Lagos, Dr Stella Chinwe Anyama, explained that students could build successful careers in aviation without becoming pilots or engineers.
She highlighted the importance of professionals from diverse backgrounds, including meteorology, passenger services, healthcare, fashion and uniform production, in the smooth operation of the industry.
Anyama noted that pilots relied on meteorologists for accurate weather information, while cabin crew members required strong interpersonal and emergency-response skills to ensure passenger safety and comfort.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vonzota Gold Ltd, Professor Omenihu C. Nwaorgu, whose company serves as a consultant and implementing partner for the programme, also emphasised the broad range of professional expertise required in aviation.
He recounted an incident involving a passenger who reportedly fainted during a flight and was revived by aviation medical personnel before being transferred to a hospital upon arrival.
According to him, the incident demonstrated the critical role of healthcare professionals and other specialists in maintaining safety and supporting passenger welfare within the aviation ecosystem.
Nwaorgu commended Keyamo, Najomo and Aghadinazu for their support for the initiative, while acknowledging the contributions of school administrators and teachers who coordinated students’ participation.
Participating schools included Mende Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Maryland; Immaculate Heart Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Maryland; and Ojota Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Lagos.
The programme also featured an essay competition titled Beyond Pilots and Planes: The Hidden Careers That Keep the Sky Moving and Safe, which brought together junior and senior secondary school students from the participating schools.
In the senior secondary school category, Miss Bakare Titilope of Immaculate Heart Senior Comprehensive Secondary School, Maryland, emerged first, while Adejumo Moyimoluwa, also from the school, secured third place.
The event concluded with the recognition of outstanding participants in the essay competition, reinforcing the NCAA’s commitment to promoting aviation education, career awareness and mentorship among young Nigerians.
