REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
The second batch of graduates of the Universal School of Aviation, Lagos, sponsored by the Executive Chairman, Enugu-East Local Government Area, Enugu State, Pastor Beloved-Dan Obi-Anike have received their certificates.
The ceremony, held at the council’s headquarters, Nkwo Nike attracted aviation experts and government officials.
In a keynote address during this landmark event, the Executive Chairman, Enugu-East Local Government Area, Pastor Beloved-Dan Obi-Anike emphasized that the event goes beyond certifications as it presents highly trained workforce to the aviation sector.
Pastor Obi-Anike noted that the Local Government Area which used to be one of the disadvantaged areas in the country is being transformed in terms of socio-economic and human capital development.
In separate keynote speeches, the Regional Manager, South-East Airports and Manager, Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, Mr Hillary Umunna as well as the Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor on Transport, Mrs Ify Ugonabo commended the Enugu-East Local Government Chairman for his foresight and changing the narrative for youths in the area.
This brings to eighty, the number of youths so far sponsored on Aviation training by the Council’s Chairman with another twenty youths expected to be trained in the third batch, bringing it to a total number of one hundred youths trained under the programme.
Meanwhile, the Council have equally signed a Memorandum of Understanding with David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi state to scale up the number of undergraduates on scholarships sponsored by the council to between twenty and one hundred.
Presently there are five undergraduates from the area on full scholarship sponsored by the council.
Speaking on the development, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, of the University, Professor Nkiru Fearani urged other Local Government Chairmen and political leaders in the country to emulate the selflesss and visionary leadership of Pastor Obi-Anike whom she said is setting the pace of good governance and inclusive administration in the third tier of government in the country.
The Enugu-East Local Government has a Bye Law that stipulates monthly transmission of ten percent of its monthly allocation and income totalling ten billion naira in ten years to Human Capital Development TrustFund.
