Eastwing Aviation Summit inspires South-East Youth to pursue aviation careers
More than 50 young people, secondary school students, aviation enthusiasts and industry stakeholders gathered in Enugu for the second edition of the South-East Aviation Summit Eastwing Youth Competition (SASEYC 2.0), aimed at exposing young Nigerians to career opportunities in the aviation industry.
The summit, held on October 3, 2026, at Bon Platinum Hotel, Enugu, was organised under the theme, “Advancing Youth Potentials Through Aviation Innovation and Excellence.”
The event featured presentations by aviation professionals, educationists and industry leaders, who urged young people to acquire the technical skills, discipline and professional qualifications needed to compete in the global aviation industry.
The Chief Executive Officer of Eastwing Aviation Institute, Dr Christopher Edeh, said the initiative was established to give young people early exposure to aviation and access to opportunities that previous generations may not have enjoyed.
Drawing on his experience in the Nigerian Air Force, Edeh said introducing young people to aviation early would help them make informed career choices, whether in piloting, aircraft engineering or other specialised fields.
He stressed that aspiring aviation professionals should not have to travel abroad to access quality training, emphasising the need to develop credible, accredited training opportunities within Nigeria.
Edeh also highlighted operational challenges that have contributed to the collapse of several Nigerian airlines, noting that sustainability in the aviation business requires sound management and strict adherence to safety standards.
He identified timely payment of workers’ salaries, replacement of life-limited aircraft components, continuous retraining of pilots and engineers, and effective management of fuel and other operational resources as essential to airline survival.
He commended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for its role in enforcing safety standards and ensuring regulatory compliance. He also highlighted Eastwing Aviation Institute’s partnerships with aviation institutions in Scotland and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, which he said were helping expand access to industry-relevant training in the South-East.
The Father of the Day, HRH Igwe Dr Lawrence Agubuzu, commended Edeh for investing in aviation training and contributing to manpower development and the Nigerian economy.
Agubuzu encouraged young people to overcome their fear of flying, describing air transportation as one of the safest modes of transport.
He said aviation offered diverse career paths beyond piloting, including aircraft maintenance engineering, cabin crew services, aviation operations and management, air traffic services, safety oversight, aviation security, ticketing and passenger support.
He urged young people to pursue specialised training and obtain relevant professional certifications to improve their employment prospects in the industry.
The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, Dr Ibrahim Bello Bashir, highlighted the global demand for aviation professionals and called for greater efforts to equip young people with the skills needed to fill emerging vacancies.
Bashir cited Boeing projections indicating that the global aviation industry would require approximately 2.5 million personnel, including pilots, engineers, cabin crew and ground operations professionals, over the coming years.
He said Nigeria’s large youthful population presented an opportunity to develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting domestic and international demand.
According to him, career opportunities extend beyond the cockpit, and skills shortages have created situations in which foreign nationals occupy positions that qualified Nigerians could potentially fill.
Bashir also encouraged young people to acquire practical skills in emerging and high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and underwater welding.
He emphasised that academic qualifications should be complemented by practical skills and recognised professional certifications, warning that young Africans without relevant expertise risk being disadvantaged in the global labour market.
The founding partner of Aeropath and Chief Executive Officer of Ubuntu HR Consulting, Laure Jifack, drew attention to the shortage of technical personnel in Africa’s aviation industry, particularly aircraft maintenance engineers and certified technicians.
Citing Boeing projections, Jifack said Africa would need approximately 24,000 additional aircraft maintenance technicians by 2044, while existing regional training capacity remained inadequate to meet the projected demand.
She described the shortage as both a challenge and an opportunity to develop a stronger indigenous aviation workforce.
Jifack said Eastwing Aviation Institute and Aeropath could work together to identify promising talent early, establish accessible career pathways and connect young people with internationally recognised training and certification opportunities, including EASA Part 66 qualifications.
She identified the high cost of training, travel requirements and lengthy training periods as major barriers preventing many young Africans from entering the industry.
According to her, the challenge is not necessarily a lack of talent but limited access to the training and certification needed to turn that talent into professional expertise.
The Chief Executive Officer of Queens Model Schools, Enugu, Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, also supported efforts to expose young people to aviation and other professional opportunities early in life.
Drawing from his personal experiences, including a visit to the Smithsonian Institution in the United States, Okenwa emphasised discipline, respect, hard work and high personal standards as foundations for lasting success.
He urged participants to understand that success went beyond titles and positions, noting that aviation demanded exceptional attention to detail because mistakes could have serious consequences.
Using aircraft accidents to illustrate the risks, he warned against allowing financial considerations to override established safety procedures.
Okenwa encouraged the young participants to take responsibility for their conduct and professional development, stressing that organisational excellence begins with individual discipline and leadership.
One of the summit’s emotional moments came during the presentation of certificates to the competition’s top 10 candidates, when the overall winner, Felix Favour Chinecherem, broke down in tears after her name was announced.
Chinecherem said she had dreamt of pursuing a career in aviation since she was 10 years old. She expressed gratitude to God and those who had given her the opportunity to participate in the competition.
In a message to fellow young people, she urged them not to abandon their ambitions because of challenges, encouraging them to remain persistent even when the journey appeared difficult.
Her experience reflected the central objective of SASEYC 2.0: identifying promising young people, exposing them to career opportunities and helping them take their first steps towards achieving their ambitions.
The convener of the summit and Chief Executive Officer of Artmatazz Media, Christian Agadibe, said the initiative had recorded progress since its first edition.
He recalled that the inaugural SASEYC produced Uyamadu Franklin as its winner. Franklin has since moved to Abuja, where he is undertaking industrial training in aircraft maintenance.
Agadibe said Franklin’s progress demonstrated the value of providing young people with early exposure, guidance and opportunities to pursue professional careers.
The second edition expanded on that foundation by connecting participants with aviation professionals, educators and industry stakeholders while highlighting the range of career opportunities available across the sector.
The presentation of certificates to the top 10 candidates and the recognition of distinguished individuals rounded off the event.
For the participants, SASEYC 2.0 provided an opportunity to learn from industry professionals and explore how they could contribute to the future of African aviation.