The management of United Nigeria Airlines and Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the industrial training of engineering students of the university at the airline’s facility.
The Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said the partnership would enable engineering students of the university to “undergo a robust, hands-on and industry-driven training programme in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.”
The Vice-Chancellor spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday during the signing of the MoU.
She said, “Under the terms of this MoU, about 20 400-level students of our College of Engineering will be enrolled annually under the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme at United Nigeria Airlines.
“The partnership is structured to run for a renewable period of 10 years without any financial commitment from the university, which represents a long-term investment in human capital development, skills transfer and the grooming of a new generation of Nigerian aerospace professionals through our joint engagement.”
Olarinde lauded the founder of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, whom she said had “looked beyond geography to recognise excellence, legacy and genuine investment in education.”
Speaking, Okonkwo said the partnership with ABUAD was in recognition of the quality and excellence for which the university is known, as well as appreciation of the support of its Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola, to the success of the Ekiti Agro-Allied Cargo International Airport, Ado Ekiti.
Okonkwo said, “We are privileged to be here. What we have come to do is to share our knowledge. Knowledge is a powerful tool. The MoU opens all the facilities of the airline to ABUAD students to enhance their knowledge in practical terms.
“With time, we will be here to find out how we can also help you prepare engineers better internally. You deserve the support for all you have done.”
He said United Nigeria Airlines had one of the most robust maintenance departments in the Nigerian aviation industry, adding that it had grown to a stage where it would establish its own maintenance centre.
The Chancellor of ABUAD, Afe Babalola, expressed pride in the partnership between the airline and the university.
He said, “We can both work together to build new Nigerians. I appreciate what you are doing for us. We will improve on this partnership as time goes on. I thank you for agreeing to serve our university.”
Babalola hailed Okonkwo for believing in ABUAD and for being a lover of education.
He said, “The surest palliative to the country’s problems is education. That was the reason I established the institution—to raise a new generation of Nigerians and demonstrate to people what a university should be.”
He described the MoU as a significant contribution to manpower development in the aviation and engineering sectors.
