The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and Aero Contractors, on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on human capacity development.
The NCAT Rector, Capt. Abdulsalami Mohammed and Aero Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi, signed the MOU after a facility tour of the college in Zaria.
Signing the MoU, Sanusi explained that the partnership would improve manpower development, thereby addressing the challenges of manpower deficit in the industry.
He said: “It is my pleasure to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the college which will facilitate On the Job Training (OJT) for NCAT students engineers.
“This ceremony is made possible due to cooperation the airline has received from the college management.
“This event is the demonstration of our efforts at deepening human capacity development, which both organisations are committed to achieving for the growth of the sector.”
Sanusi said the MOU would set in motion, the annual OJT for NCAT students engineers for a three months period.
He explained that this would enable them to gain practical experience on aircraft maintenance knowledge before proceeding for another specialised intense training at Aero Rotary and Fixed Wing Department.
The managing director said the airline would also expose the students to invaluable experience in its workshop, on planning, and detailed knowledge of airframe.
Sanusi said that on completion of the training exposure, the company would offer an immediate employment to the best 10 students engineers that emerged from the OJT.
“The airline has chosen this course of action to demonstrate its unequivocal support to the Federal Government to create employment opportunities for our youths.
“Indeed, the airline is one of the few AMO that has made the critical linkage between human capital development and employment creation,” he said.
Sanusi urged government to continue to encourage companies with a prooven antecedent of HCD and EC.
Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO),Human Capacity Development (HCD),
Employment Creation (EC).
In this remarks, Mohammed said signing of the MOU between the two parties marked a milestone in their relationship.
The college rector said that human capacity development was fundamental to sustainable development of the industry.
He explained that this was because the airline played an important role in advancing the safety and growth of aviation in the country.
“The collaboration is unique in the sense that both parties have a long history in the aviation field.
“This is because, Aero is the oldest airline and NCAT is the oldest aviation training organisation.
“In addition, Aero is the first Maintenance Repair Organisation (MRO), while NCAT is the first Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) to be certified by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,” he said.
Mohammed said lack of job opportunities in the industry was a great concern to him.
He said as rector of a training organisation, it was painful to see young qualified Nigerians finding it difficult to secure jobs.
Mohammed said it was profoundly heart warming the promise by the airline to absorb 10 NCAT students after the training.
The rector gave an assurance that the college would continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the industry had well-trained and skilled manpower.
