United Nigeria Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), to provide industry-based training for students of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.
The Chairman of the airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, said on Friday in Ado-Ekiti that the agreement would create a structured pathway for ABUAD engineering students to gain practical experience through the airline’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
Okonkwo said that under the partnership, students would annually participate in hands-on, industry-driven training programmes in aviation maintenance and aerospace operations.
He noted that the programme would be fully funded by United Nigeria Airlines at no cost to the university, as part of the company’s commitment to human capacity development in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, commended the airline for partnering with the university to advance technical education and professional training.
Olarinde described the collaboration as a strategic investment in students’ exposure and professional development, expressing optimism that it would contribute to the growth of indigenous aviation expertise.
She said the partnership had the potential to produce professionals capable of assembling, manufacturing, piloting and building aircraft locally in the near future.
According to her, the collaboration should serve as a model for effective university–industry partnerships in the country.
In his remarks, the Founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, said education remained the bedrock of national development and appealed to relevant authorities to ensure access to quality education for all Nigerians.
Babalola thanked United Nigeria Airlines for choosing the university and formalising the partnership, describing the MoU as a significant contribution to manpower development in the aviation and engineering sectors.
