The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria (NCAT) have reaffirmed their synergy in the area of capacity development and other aviation industry projects, considering the global challenges facing the aviation industry that requires tremendous innovation and dedication.
The commissioner, AIB-N, Mr. Akin Olateru, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Capt. Alkali Modibbo and his management team at AIB’s corporate head office in Abuja.
Both aviation agencies also discussed areas of mutual benefits and collaboration that will further improve aviation safety and development.
The bureau has also announced that it will launch its world-class training facility, the first in Africa, before the end of 2023.
“The AIB-N training centre located close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Abuja is about 90 per cent completed and should be ready at about the third quarter of 2022.
“AIB is setting up a training school which is the first of its kind in the history of Africa. It is a welcome initiative. We have been talking to NCAT and other great institutions across the world which teaches aircraft accident investigation courses. We have worked on a curriculum and we will revisit that because the training school is about 90 per cent completed.
“The essence of the facility is to deepen training as AIB-N prioritises manpower development adding that the NCAT visit will deepen their collaboration on training,” Olateru said.
He urged the NCAT to create a platform for training all non-technical personnel of the aviation industry on an aviation awareness appreciation programme.
“This visit is in the spirit of collaboration. Training is extremely important in any organisation and that is what makes the organisation grow.
“Training is what has been central to what we do. So far, in the AIB, we have trained 48 of our staff at NCAT. Before the end of this year, we will be training 16 of our staff to have a private pilot license (PPL). The programme begins on February 14 this year. So far, we have trained 17 of our aircraft engineers at NCAT. We are currently having nine of our staff on students’ review.
“We have trained two of our air traffic controllers and two dispatchers at NCAT. Recently, one of the new units we set up, the Command and Control Centre, also had seven staff trained on radiotelephony. So, it is a partnership that is growing,” he stated.
Olateru tasked the states and Federal Government to sponsor students in NCAT as they used to do, adding that this would enable children from poor backgrounds to benefit from NCAT’s training services.
In his remarks, the NCAT rector, Capt. Moddibo Mahmud, said it is significant that continuous synergy is maintained among associate agencies, considering the global challenges facing the aviation industry that requires tremendous innovation and dedication.
According to him, the AIB-N’s commitment to acquiring modern facilities and manpower development resonates positively with NCAT, just as he hailed the NCAT for re-equipping to remain at the forefront in aviation education.
Moddibo appreciated the synergy between both agencies in the area of capacity development and pleaded for more patronage from AIB-N.
“The efforts being made by the aviation college to enhance security on its campus is impressive and commendable. So far, more than 40-armed security operatives have been deployed to man the institution’s security system. The Kaduna State and the Federal Government are working hard to ensure adequate security in the area,” he added.
