In a groundbreaking milestone for grassroots development and youth empowerment, Enugu East Local Government has made history as the first local council in Nigeria to produce aviation graduates, setting a new benchmark for local governance in skills development.
Under the visionary leadership of Engr. (Pst.) Beloved-Dan Obi Anike, twenty young men and women successfully completed a two-month intensive Aviation Management training at the Universal School of Aviation, Lagos. The trainees have now returned to Enugu, equipped with globally relevant skills to drive the state’s emerging aviation sector.
Speaking during the certificate-presentation ceremony, Hon. Obi Ozor, Enugu State Commissioner for Transport, lauded the initiative as a trailblazing step in the state’s journey toward aviation growth.
“What I have witnessed here today is something I never expected,” he said. “Enugu East is the most prepared council to benefit from the opportunities in our aviation sector.”
The Commissioner commended the local government for taking proactive measures in human capacity development, urging other councils to emulate the Enugu East model in preparing their youths for the future of work.
In his remarks, Engr. (Pst.) Beloved-Dan Obi Anike, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government, reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to human capital development and sustainable youth empowerment.
“Training these 20 youths—and another 40 in our second batch—is fully aligned with our strategic objectives,” he explained.
He emphasised that the programme is not merely an academic exercise but a deliberate investment in the council’s long-term development agenda.
According to Anike, the initiative aims to equip local talents with technical and managerial competencies that will position Enugu East as a key contributor to the forthcoming Enugu Air project and other aviation-related ventures in the state.
With Enugu State’s aviation ambitions gaining momentum under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, the newly certified graduates are expected to become pioneers in the local aviation workforce.
Hon. Ozor hinted that the graduates would soon be engaged in the operational framework of Enugu Air, translating the council’s visionary investment into tangible opportunities.
“Many of them—if not all—will be called upon to join Enugu Air,” the Commissioner said, describing the initiative as “a model for how local councils can align with state and national development goals.”
Enugu East’s achievement marks a historic leap in grassroots innovation, positioning the council as a model of foresight, capacity building, and partnership-driven governance — a testament to how visionary local leadership can align with global progress.
