The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, has welcomed back 35 young people from the state who were trained overseas as pilots and aircraft engineers.
It will be remembered that Governor Eno had earlier sent these 35 indigenes to France and Ethiopia for training to build skilled manpower for the state’s growing aviation sector.
Speaking at the Government House in Uyo, the governor said he was especially happy that the trainees were young people. He also thanked former governor Udom Emmanuel for his vision in creating Ibom Air and for supporting the training of the cadets abroad.
He congratulated 15 pilots who trained at the Airbus Flight Academy in Toulouse, France, and 20 aircraft engineers who completed their training at Ethiopian Aviation University in Addis Ababa.
“This is a clear example of developing our people,” Eno said. “We are proud of you. I’m happy you went through the application and selection process to qualify for this opportunity.”
He encouraged other young people in Akwa Ibom to take advantage of similar chances. “We will keep opening doors,” he said, “but you must walk through them and use the opportunities well.”
Governor Eno also repeated his promise to support the growth of Ibom Air, which he described as “our airline and our pride.”
He revealed that the state government is making big investments in the aviation sector. There are currently 10 major projects happening at Victor Attah International Airport, including the creation of an aviation village and other facilities to support Ibom Air’s operations.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom, thanked the state government for sponsoring the training. He said the cadets performed excellently during their programmes.
One of the cadets also thanked the governor for helping them achieve their dreams.
“Governor Umo Eno even visited us in France during our training,” the cadet said. “We promise to use our skills to help Ibom Air and improve the state’s aviation industry.”
