BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled a strategic youth-focused initiative aimed at building a new pipeline of aviation professionals, with a strong emphasis on secondary school students and increased female participation in technical roles.
The programme, led by Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, General Manager, Training and Human Resource Development, is aligned with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) agenda. It is designed to address growing manpower shortages in critical areas such as piloting, aeronautical engineering, aviation security, and firefighting.
Akinlade said the initiative seeks to reshape perceptions of the sector and inspire early interest among young learners.
“We are bringing awareness to the young generation to let them know that aviation is a very interesting place to work,” she stated.
“We find that we do not have a lot of professionals, especially gender-related, in key professions like pilots, engineers, and firemen,” she added.
She explained that beyond core operational roles, the programme also introduces students to “aviation-adjacent” careers such as aviation medicine and aviation law, underscoring the industry’s wide-ranging opportunities.
The maiden edition of the initiative featured aviation experts, including female pilots, medical professionals, and specialists from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
Students from schools such as Chrisland Schools participated in interactive sessions designed to deepen exposure to the sector.
Akinlade also highlighted collaboration with Caverton, which introduced students to emerging opportunities in unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and their applications in logistics and technology.
She noted that the programme places strong emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), helping students connect classroom learning to real-world aviation operations.
“The programme was rich, and the students were quite excited and educated, but sustainability is everything. We intend to sustain this and have more of these programmes later in the year, inviting even more schools,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Special Duties at FAAN, encouraged students to consider careers in the aviation sector.
According to her, the NGAP initiative is aimed at attracting young people into aviation careers while strengthening the industry’s future talent base.
She commended the FAAN Training School for hosting the programme, noting that early exposure remains key to shaping future aviation leaders.
By engaging students before they make critical career and university choices, FAAN said it hopes to ensure the next generation is not only aware of aviation opportunities but is also inspired to actively pursue and lead within the sector.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
