The Chief Executive Officer ,United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, has disclosed that the company’s partnership is designed to provide industry-based training for students of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.
Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABUAD , Okonkwo explained that under the partnership, students would annually participate in hands-on, industry-driven training programmes in aviation maintenance, and aerospace operations.
He said the programme would be fully funded by United Nigeria Airlines, at no cost to the university, as part of the company’s commitment to human capacity development, in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
In his remarks , the founder , Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, expressed gratitude to the management of the United Nigeria Airlines for choosing the university for partnership and Aeronautical training .
He said the partnership is aimed at creating a structured pathway for ABUAD engineering students, to gain practical experience, through the airline’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
The elder statesman said education remained the bedrock of national development.He therefore appealed to relevant authorities to ensure access to quality education for all Nigerians.
He described the MoU as a significant contribution to manpower development in the aviation and engineering sectors.
Babalola said the MoU would contribute significantly to manpower development in Nigeria’s aviation and engineering sectors and commended Okonkwo for his professional achievements and support for educational advancement.
The Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, commended the airline for partnering with the university, to advance technical education and professional training.
Olarinde described the collaboration as a strategic investment in students’ exposure and professional development, expressing optimism that it would contribute immensely to the growth of indigenous aviation expertise.
She said the partnership had the potential to produce professionals, capable of assembling, manufacturing, piloting and building aircraft locally, in the near future.
The VC added that the collaboration would also serve as a model for effective university–industry partnerships in the country.