President Goodluck Jonathan of
Nigeria has commissioned a new state-of-the-art air transport
training institution, the International Aviation College, situated
in Ilorin, Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria, as part of Nigerian
government's growing commitment to bolster aviation capacity.
The President also inspected
facilities at the college including its Diamond training aircraft
and hangar. The college, which will, among other, undertake the
training of pilots, engineers and technicians is expected to play a
major role in producing much needed aviation experts to drive air
transport development in Nigeria and the Africa region.
It is largely expected to complement the nation's College of
Aviation Technology in Zaria, also in Northern Nigeria. The former
Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was instrumental to
establishing the International Aviation College, and was present at
an elaborate ceremony to commission the College. The Chairman of
the College, Capt. Edward Boyo, describes the college as capable of
meeting the training needs of the aviation industry.
The Director General of the
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren, also
presented the college with a provisional certificate to start
operations, and the college is expected to become operational in
the course of 2011.