BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
As Nigeria’s aviation industry evolves, the role of Aviation Training Organisations (ATOs) in ensuring safety, efficiency and compliance has become more crucial than ever.
To this end, industry stakeholders have been urged to scale up the quality of capacity development programmes for technical personnel to align with international benchmarks and bolster the sector’s global competitiveness.
This call was made by Captain Chris Najomo, Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop in Lagos on managing compliance among Approved Training Organizations (ATOs) with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).
Najomo, represented by Mr. Hyelni Bassi, NCAA’s General Manager of Licensing, emphasised that ATOs form the foundation of a well-trained aviation workforce, ensuring safety and operational efficiency.
“The industry, aviation professionals, and ultimately, the traveling public depend on the rigorous training and compliance measures we establish together,” Najomo stated.
However, he noted that maintaining high standards within training organizations presents significant challenges.
“Today, we face significant challenges in maintaining high standards of quality and compliance within our training organizations. Rapid advancements in technology, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the increasing complexity of aviation operations necessitate a proactive and collaborative approach,” he said.
To address these concerns, Najomo urged ATOs to not only meet but surpass the compliance expectations set forth by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations.
In his remarks, Adoyi Sunnie, Head of the Aviation Training Organisation Inspectorate at NCAA, stressed the importance of the workshop, stating that it was designed to evaluate the role of ATOs in Nigeria’s aviation system.
“ATOs have obligations not only to issue licenses or grant approvals but also to ensure that safety oversight activities are carried out to the highest required standards,” Sunnie said.
He further highlighted a key challenge facing Nigeria’s ATOs, low international participation.
According to him, attracting foreign trainees is critical for positioning Nigeria as a global aviation training hub.
“The challenge we face is that international participants are not enrolling in our ATOs for training.
This is a gap we must address by aligning our training standards with global best practices,” he stated.
Sunnie added that the workshop serves as a platform for ATOs to analyze industry gaps and develop strategies to enhance compliance, improve training quality, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in the international aviation sector.
With the growing complexity of aviation operations, stakeholders at the workshop reaffirmed the need for continuous improvement in training methodologies, regulatory compliance, and collaboration to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation industry remains competitive on the global stage.
