The Eastwing Aviation Institute in Enugu has expressed concern over the low enrollment of South-East youths in its aviation training programmes, despite the institute being established specifically to bridge the region’s gap in the aviation sector.
During a visit by staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the institute, Registrar Mr. Nnamdi Hojo highlighted that since its establishment in 2013, the majority of students have come from outside the South-East, including the Niger Delta, the North, the South-West, and even some West African countries.
He noted that the institute offers extensive opportunities for young people to explore careers in aviation but lamented that outreach efforts to past governments and prominent individuals in the region to sponsor local youths had largely been unsuccessful.
“In the South-East, aviation is still unfamiliar territory. We’ve been trying to close that gap, but many people here are yet to embrace aviation training,” Hojo said. “The majority of our trainees are from Yoruba, Hausa, and South-South communities, with very few Igbo participants.”
He affirmed that the institute is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and has the necessary approvals from regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Eastwing Aviation Institute also partners with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to enhance training quality.
With a recent upgrade in 2024 by the NBTE, the institute now offers Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Technology and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Aviation Management. It also collaborates with the International College of Aeronautics, a registered U.S.-based institution.
Beyond aircraft engineering, Eastwing provides training in cabin crew operations, flight dispatch, aviation management, dangerous goods handling, and aircraft type rating, which allows trainees to specialize in specific aircraft models. Hojo revealed that the institute trained all the aviation officers currently working at Anambra Airport under former Governor Willie Obiano.
He added that the school runs a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) modular program, giving graduates the opportunity to work globally as certified aircraft engineers—an offering unique to the institute in the entire West African region.
Students of Eastwing gain hands-on experience through industrial training partnerships with the Nigerian Air Force, the International Helicopter Flying Training School in Emene, Enugu, and Aero Contractors.
Manager of the institute, Mr. Gilbert Ani, appealed to South-East youths to take advantage of the institute’s resources and opportunities. He also urged governors and regional stakeholders to sponsor young people in the zone, noting that only Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State had so far sponsored students for training at the institute.
In response, NAN Zonal Manager Mrs. Maureen Atuonwu commended Eastwing for situating the institute in the South-East and pledged the agency’s support in raising awareness about its programmes. She emphasized the need for increased visibility so that more people in the region can benefit from what the school offers.
As part of efforts to address underrepresentation in the aviation sector, Christian Agadibe, Executive Director of Eastwing Youth Foundation—a subsidiary of the institute—announced plans for the Face of Eastwing/Southeast Aviation Summit 2025, scheduled for August.
“This summit aims to confront the critical issue of the South-East’s marginal presence in the fast-growing aviation industry. The problem is not talent or ambition—it’s access and opportunity,” Agadibe said.
He added that the summit would not only create awareness but also offer tangible incentives. The top five finalists in the Face of Eastwing competition will receive scholarships and other prizes, helping to shift the narrative and ensure the region is no longer left behind.
