Sade Williams/Business a.m.
The International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria to enhance training.
Also, the foremost aviation college is proposing to soon start engineering and cabin crew courses as it awaits approval from the Kwara State government, which is considering the proposal by the college.
Mary Ronke Arin, Kwara State commissioner for tertiary education, made this known recently, during the opening ceremony of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) training at the college.
While pledging the resolve of the government to support aviation in Nigeria, she said: “His Excellency is pledging the unalloyed support of the state government to LAAC and other stakeholders in the aviation industry with a view to moving the sector to the next level.
“The state government will continue to support her own Aviation College within her limited resources in all aspects.
“We have done so many [things] for the college since this present dispensation in the state came on board in 2015 and we will continue to do more with a view to repositioning the college for effective service delivery.
“It would interest you to note that the state government is considering the request from the management of IAC, Ilorin for the establishment of school of engineering, as this will not only boost the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the college, but will also position the school to access Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) intervention. Other requests from the college like establishment of short courses like cabin crew is also receiving the attention of the state government.” she said.
She also disclosed that the college will enter into a partnership with NCAT this week as part of efforts to promote learning.
“The state government has created the enabling environment for the college to collaborate with sister institutions to promote the aviation sector. As we speak, arrangements have been concluded on Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
“Let me use this opportunity to inform you that any moment from now, the management of IAC, Ilorin will be heading to Abuja or Zaria to sign the MoU with NCAT, Zaria,” Arin added.
Suleiman Idris, chairman of LAAC, appealed to the various stakeholders and aviation authorities in Nigeria to show more commitment towards the overall development of the sector.
He expressed confidence that lessons from this year’s training will significantly help aviation media practitioners and journalists to disseminate information even more professionally, highlighting technological advancements in the application of safety, security, economics and regulation of the sector.
