The aptitude test and oral interviews for the State Aviation Scholarship Programme were held at the Anambra State Ministry of Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Awka.
Correspondent, Daniel Ezeigwe reports that the Anambra State Aviation Scholarship Programme, first of its kind since the creation of the state, is a fully-sponsored programme that would see a start-off total of one hundred youths, especially girls, to be trained in standard piloting and avionics.
The successful candidates would be sent to the Nigerian Air Force Training College.A first batch of fifty candidates have taken aptitude test for the Anambra State Aviation Scholarship Programme.Zaria, Kaduna State for medicals and onward training.
The exercise was coordinated by the Anambra State Ministries of Basic Education, Youths Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy as well as Science and Tertiary Education, and is chaired by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Creative Security, Air vice Marshal Ben Chiobi retired.
The Chairman of the Panel, retired Air Vice Marshal Chiobi, while addressing the ABS, said that the candidates who sat for the test were those who met the set prerequisites, out of which the best would be selected for further screening.
Other members of the panel including the Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha, and that of Youth Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy, Mr. Afam Mbanefo, in separate interviews, noted that the welfare of the successful candidates would be fully catered for, while the fear of sustenance did not arise as their training in Zaria would be completed before the end of the current administration’s tenure.
Also speaking, Mrs. Oby Ikejiaku-Adelana, the first female pilot in Anambra State and founder of “Girls Can Fly”, a foundation that mentors young girls who have dreams of excelling in the aviation industry, applauded Governor Willie Obiano for his vision of setting up the scholarship, and added that the legacy would be richly appreciated in the future.
Some of the candidates, including Miss Nonyenachi Nwandu, who wanted to become a pilot but could not afford the financial demands, and Mr. Darlington Chike, who had already been sponsored to a flying school in South Africa by the Anambra State Government, both spoke about how they would give back to the society, especially Anambra State, if they finally make it to the cockpit.
While launching the scheme last year, Governor Willie Obiano had said the scheme would give more women opportunities to enter the aviation industry.
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