Aviation
THE Federal Government on Thursday expressed its readiness to train adequate personnel in the aviation sector, to strengthen safety and security.
Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made this known during his opening remarks at the 10th anniversary of African Aviation Training Organisation (AATO) in Abuja.
Keyamo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Emmanuel Meribole, said the provision of quality aviation training was critical for the development of a sustainable, safe and secure air transport industry in Nigeria.
He added that aviation sector was strategically important as it supported a broad set of economic and social development in Nigeria and Africa at large.
“The growth of the industry will be influenced by the pace at which African organisations are able to develop and retain adequate and skilled human resource in compliance with ICAO provisions, plans, programmes and required performance specified in ICAO SARP.
“There is a need to plan, coordinate, manage, operate, and oversee all complex operations in various aviation infrastructures, as a region that faces shortages in critical skills in key areas of civil aviation,“ he said.
He described AATO as an association of aviation training organisations in Africa and related institutions with the overall goal of improving the levels of aviation safety in Africa.
According to him, the AATO objectives include promoting cooperation among its members, promoting interests of its members, aviation training in Africa and promoting harmonisation of aviation training in Africa.
The minister also listed the sharing of expertise among its members and other aviation organisations as part of AATO objectives.
Keyamo said AATO developed policy and guidelines for aviation training organisations in Africa to facilitate their compliance with international and national standard, to achieve the general objectives.
“AATO develops and advocates positions on issues of interest for its members and aviation training in Africa.
“It develops and implements system of designation of centres of excellence and also supports the accreditation of training organisation across borders.
The minister, however, said that the major challenge of AATO had been the inability to fully execute its mandate due to inadequate funding, low membership, fragile institutional framework, lack of awareness and membership benefit. (NAN)
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December 15, 2023 @ 7:25 GMT|
Tags: Emmanuel Meribole Festus Keyamo
