Institute trains South-East youths in aviation skills

 The Eastwing Aviation Institute in Enugu has begun training youths in the South-East on aviation hospitality, tourism, customer care and soft skills in aviation, aimed at embracing the aviation profession.

Supreme news reports that the training was part of the institute’s maiden “Southeast Aviation Summit” scheduled to hold between Sept. 19 and 20 through its Eastwing Youth Foundation.

Beneficiaries were drawn from across the five eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

Dr Segun Babalola, the Deputy Provost of the Institute, at the training on Wednesday in Enugu, said the idea was to expose South-East youths to various opportunities in aviation through training.

Babalola said that more than 50 youths from the zone had registered for the training, adding that “Our aim is to select the first 10 from the number and train them on soft skills.”

According to him, the 10 lucky youths will be evaluated, while the best five will be selected among them.

He said that the best among the five would emerge as Southeast Aviation Summit ambassadors with a scholarship to study any course of their choice in the institute.

“Then, our partners will assist the remaining four with visas to travel to any country of their choice.

“We have training on aviation fuel security, quality assurance, flight dispatch, cabin crew, ramp safety and baggage handling, general electricity, and others,” he said.

The deputy provost added that the school had written to the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS), Emene, Enugu, where the youths would be trained before their selection.

“We have also written to the Nigerian Air Force Base, Enugu, for their own platform because we have different types of aircraft where we will engage these students for about five or six hours on practical stuff.

“We also have a professional taking them on hospitality management, ticketing, and reservation,” Babalola stressed.

According to him, the institute has Eastwing Aviation Training Centre Limited and Eastwing Youth Foundation registered under it, and the foundation is the one organising the summit.

He, however, called on individuals, governments, and philanthropists from the South-East to sponsor youths who wished to be trained on aviation careers.

Also, the Executive Director of Eastwing Youth Foundation, Mr Christian Agadibe, added that the foundation was working to create significant value and impact on the youth.

“This is part of the reason this foundation was established—to keep the youth off the streets and better their lives for the future,” Agadibe said.

Similarly, a tourism expert and facilitator, Ms Folashade Folayan, who trained the youths on customer service, charged the beneficiaries on problem-solving and ensuring adequate feedback.

“Handle issues as little as you can before referring them to your supervisor,” she advised.

A participant, Franklin Uyammadu, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to them by the institute, saying that the training had been impactful for him as he learned new things about aviation.