Aviation industry leaders have urged young Nigerians to explore the numerous career opportunities available in the aviation sector beyond traditional roles such as pilots, engineers and cabin crew.
Speaking at an aviation forum, Captain Dapo Olumide said the industry offers opportunities in areas including marketing, commercial operations and logistics. He also advised young professionals to develop a strong foundation in their chosen fields before relying heavily on Artificial Intelligence, warning that technology should complement, rather than replace, human intelligence and critical thinking.
Olumide identified strong faith, excellence, hard work and fairness as key qualities required for successful leadership, while advocating mentorship and knowledge-sharing between experienced professionals and young entrants. Meanwhile, Chairman and CEO of Omni Blue Aviation Nigeria, Akin Olateru, who disclosed that he has spent 38 years in the aviation industry, encouraged young people to remain diligent, believe in themselves and understand that success is built gradually through perseverance and hard work.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, said FAAN’s priority is passenger safety, protection and a seamless travel experience. She explained that regulatory measures around airport car-hire operations were introduced following complaints from passengers about intimidation, excessive fares and other negative experiences involving some transport operators.
Kuku clarified that FAAN does not collect money on behalf of car-hire drivers, but provides passengers with visibility of operators and drivers, as well as indicative fares based on destinations. On e-hailing services, she said discussions with operators had included issues around dedicated airport pick-up zones and liability for drivers, stressing that FAAN’s concerns were primarily focused on passenger safety and accountability.
