THE International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, Kwara State, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr (Mrs) Mary Ronke Arinde, hinted this while welcoming the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) to the college.
Speaking on behalf of the Kwara State governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, Arinde said: “The state government has created the enabling environment for the college to collaborate with sister institutions to promote the aviation sector.
“As we speak, arrangements have been concluded on Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. Let me use this opportunity to inform you that any moment from now, the management of IAC, Ilorin will be heading to Abuja or Zaria to sign the MoU with NCAT, Zaria.
“Permit me to add at this juncture that IAC, Ilorin is presently in partnership with the Nigerian Army in the area of training. As a matter of fact, the Chief of Army Staff has sent down 10 officers to IAC, Ilorin for Private Pilot Licence (PPL) training.
“I want to assure you all that the college is determined to complete the training within the stipulated period of six months.”
In other words, the army officers’ training is holding concurrently with the training of about 40 Flight Dispatchers most of whom are nominees of the various 16 Local Government Areas in Kwara State.”
The commissioner pledged the support of the state government to stakeholders in aviation industry including the media with a view to moving the sector to the next level.
She said, “The state government will continue to support her own Aviation College within her limited resources in all aspects. We have done so much for the college since this present dispensation in the state came on board in 2015 and we will continue to do more with a view to repositioning the college for effective service delivery.
“It would interest you to note that the state government is considering the request from the management of IAC, Ilorin for the establishment of School of Engineering, as this will not only boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the college, but also position the school to access TETFund intervention. Other requests from the college like establishment of short courses, like cabin crew, is also receiving the attention of the state government.”
In his remarks, the chairman of LAAC, Mr Idris Suleiman, said, “We are hopeful that lessons from this year’s training will significantly help us as aviation media practitioners and journalists to disseminate information even more professionally, highlighting technological advancements in the application of safety, security, economics and regulation of the sector. I am confident that the training will further empower us to play our role as the fourth estate of the realm.
“This is the second time that LAAC is undergoing this annual training here at the International Aviation College, Ilorin after experiences of similar trainings for decades at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and you can testify that differences in the knowledge and skills we gathered from this training last year has not only sharpened our understanding of the aviation industry, it also reflected significantly in our coverage and reportage of the industry’s events.”
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