Ministry of Aviation Trains Directorate officers

At the instance of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, CON, SAN, FCIArb (UK) following the need to have well informed officers in a technical and economically viable sector, Directorate officers in the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development were trained on Basic Aviation Planning and Management.

The training, conducted by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, (NCAT) took place at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria from the 24th of June to the 12th, July. Courses such as Airport planning, Statistics and forecasting, Aviation security, Aircraft route designation, Aircraft engineering, Ticketing, and fares e.t.c were all administered to 34 Directorate level officers by the institute.

Declaring the two-weeks training opened, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel C. Meribole, urged the trainees to assimilate as much as possible the knowledge imparted, as it would enhance their understanding of the Aviation sector. He stressed that the training became necessary due to the recurrent postings and deployment of staff, particularly Directorate officers. “New entrants into the aviation ministry need to be abreast of the technicalities and workings of the aviation industry” He further explained that the two-week training has been structured and staggered in such a way that one week of intensive training would be followed by a one-week break for officers to attend to duties in the office to forestall a lacuna, then the concluding one-week to wrap up the training.

According to participants, the training was not only educative but also enlightening, “it enhanced my knowledge and eroded grey and contentious areas of the industry which previously existed” while another participant appreciated the conduct of the Mastery Test and Course tutor assessment form administered by NCAT tagging it as necessary and a catalyst for seriousness.

While giving her vote of thanks, the Deputy Director, Training and Staff Welfare, Mrs. Jachinma Agu on behalf of participants thanked the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary for availing the Directors the opportunity to partake in the training. She said, as the first line of contact with the public, Directors need to be well informed and schooled in the operations and workings of the Aviation sector. She thanked NCAT for their precision and quality standard during the period of the training and promised to make the demands of the participants to partake in the Advanced Aviation Planning and Management course in Zaria to the authorities to ensure effective learning experience for participants.

Rector of the institute, Mr. Joseph Emaligwe, ably represented by Eng. Nasiru Gongura, accompanied by Dean Aviation Management School, Engr. Ishaya Idris Akaaba while issuing certificates to participants, expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the directorate level officers. He said that NCAT’s standard over the years has won the institute accolades as one of the best training institute in Africa and encouraged all participants to ensure they partake in the Advanced basic training course at the institute in Zaria.

Odutayo Oluseyi
Head/Information, Press and Public Affairs