Keyamo Urges Stakeholders To Identify Young Talents At TBN 20th Anniversary
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN) has urged stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry to be deliberate and intentional in identifying, encouraging, nurturing and harvesting young talents to ensure a sustainable supply of manpower to the aviation sector.
He made the plea in a Keynote Address delivered by Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Grand Finale of the 14thNational Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2025) and Air Transport Youth Empowerment Seminar held on May 24, 2025 at the Training Hall of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event, which is aimed at discovering hidden talents and raising future aviation professionals in an effort to address the challenges of ageing workforce and skilled manpower shortage in the sector, had as its theme: “Navigating Career Entry Challenges to Secure the Future.”
“As a globally regulated sector, it is important that stakeholders put measures in place to continually attract the right quality and quantity of human resources required to move the industry forward. It is important to note that programmes such as this, are avenues through which we can breed, nurture, and harvest such human resources. Travel and Business News is doing a great job in this regard and deserves accolades,” Mr. Festus Keyamo said.
Declaring the forum open, the Minister added that, “One of the critical challenges facing the industry is the ageing and retiring workforce leading to widened knowledge gaps and operational issues. This programme, I believe, is among other things, designed to make aviation appealing to the younger generation while encouraging them to develop interest in taking up a career in the industry.”
Mr. Ewos Iroro, NTEC Founder and National Coordinator, said the initiative was birthed in 2009 to encourage young Nigerians to take up careers in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors as well as drum up greater awareness and support for the air transport industry.
“NTEC has raised many young talents who are now working in various fields of aviation; and a few days ago, one of our past winners of this competition, Miss Adeola Peace who graduated from Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja several years back, got her Masters Degree as an Aeronautical Engineer,” he disclosed.
The DG, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo was represented by the Regional Manager Lagos, Barr. Olubukola Teriba. He remarked that. “This year’s theme reflects the shared concerns of countless young Nigerians who seek to make their mark in aviation, tourism, and the wider transport ecosystem but often face steep barriers to entry: lack of access, limited mentorship, financial constraints, skill mismatches, and systemic gaps.I commend the organizers for their unwavering commitment to youth development, intellectual engagement, and aviation advocacy. Your vision to connect young Nigerians with the world of air transport and tourism through writing, dialogue, and mentorship is both timely and commendable.”
Sharing similar sentiments, the MD, FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku also represented by Mrs. Obiageli Orah stressed: “This is a breeding ground where many of our young ones have first encounter with the aviation world. And many of them may just stick to aviation and pick a career here. At FAAN, we will continue to encourage and support programmes such as this. The inherent benefits of this seed sown in our youths are unquantifiable.”
Essay topics for NTEC 2025 were: “The Role of Public Perception on Airlines’ Safety Performance, ”in the Secondary Schools category; and “The Security Implications of AI on Air Travel and How to Mitigate Them,”forTertiary Institutions.
Written entries andthe oral defense were assessed by a panel of Independent Assessors chaired by Mr. Alex Nwuba, President, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Nigeria. Other members include Princess Titilayo Owolabi-Akerele, Member, Ekiti 5th Assembly & CEO, Royal Hope Foundation; Mrs. Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN; Mrs. Victoria Adegbe, MD, Aviatrix Hub; Barr. Olubukola Teriba, Regional Manager Lagos, NCAA; Mrs. Christabel Eromosele, AGM Protocol and Passages, FAAN; and Mr. Godbless Oziegbe, an erstwhile veteran of Nigeria Airways.
Following the oral defense, Miss Olatunji Deborah Taiwo of University of Lagos (Unilag) emerged as winner of the tertiary institutions category with a cash prize of N150,000.2nd was Mr. Patrick Onyekachi Favour, Lagos State University (LASU) winning N100,000 while Mr. Vincent Ikechukwu Maduka, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was 3rdwith N50,000.
In the Secondary Schools category, Abdulazeez Fatimoh Ajoke, Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja took 1st place winninga cash prize of N100,000.Patrick Chidiebere David, Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando, was2ndwith N70,000,whileAkinyoola Roqeebah Morenikejialso of Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja came 3rd with N50,000.The top 10 finalists in the secondary schools category and the top 5 finalists for tertiary institutionsallreceived goodie bags with special gifts courtesy of South African Airways (SAA).
Furthermore, Queens College was invited to write an essay on the theme of the Youth Empowerment Seminar in order to get a student’s perspective on the subject. Ali Francisca Uwamaka’s write-up won the top spot and she was invited to read her essay to the audience as a Young Aviation Enthusiast. She also received a cash prize of N10,000 and a goodie bag from South African Airways.
In an effort to further encourage and motivate participants, Mrs. Obiageli Orah calledout on students who would like to be pilots in the future and offered rewards for their interest in aviation. They include; Akujieze Chisomebuka of Princeton College, Surulere, Lagos; Ojo-Ibukun Benjamin Inioluwa, Agbado District Comprehensive High School, Agbado, Ogun State; Sowunmi Anuoluwapo and Ali Francisca Chiamaka both of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos.
The highpoint of the gathering was the cutting of a cake to mark the 20th anniversary celebrations of Travel & Business Newsfor being consistent over the years as well as commemorate the birthdays of all those born in the month of May.
NTEC 2025 was supported by a number of well-meaning industry stakeholders including; the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and South African Airways (SAA). Others are Airline Logistics and Management Limited (ALML); OAS Helicopters; Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc;GHI Assets; Sabre West Africa; and OCP International.
