The Akwa Ibom State Government is to appoint a select committee to begin the training of more youths from the state as pilots and aeronautics engineers to man the Akwa Ibom International Airport.

Governor Godswill Akpabio announced this while fielding questions from Government House correspondents at Governor’s Lodge, Uyo, on Wednesday.

“We are putting in so much at the airport, and by the time these things are through, it would be sad if major aircrafts are taking off and landing and you don’t see Akwa Ibom pilots or aeronautic engineers among them. We would brush up our children who have already studied something in aviation industry and try to make sure that we re-certify them to be very marketable,” the governor said.

“I am not looking at only 150 that are going to India, we also need to have a select committee that can enable us to begin aviation training for some of our children. And that is also going to be another major focus of this administration so that we can train some of our kids in the aviation industry,” he added.
On modalities for selection of 150 Akwa Ibom youths to train on ICT in India, Chief Akpabio explained:

“The modalities for selection would be handled by the Ministry of Education. We have 31 local government areas in the state. First of all, on the equality of local government, we should have at least 93 children brought out of the 150 and others will come by way of merit, maybe because of academic performance. The remaining will come as a result of gender equality because we need to have a fair share number of women amongst them.”

According to the governor, “I think it is important we put things together and let them go there. My preference is for ICT and we are looking particularly at vocational training. For most of them that may wish to do first degree, it will be a wonderful idea and those among them that may decide to just go for certificate course in ICT-related courses, it would also be wonderful.

“We will focus on courses that are targeted at employment because the market is still there for experts in telecommunication industry and for various aspects of the ICT. Don’t forget that we now have the e-library where we still need to have the requisite manpower that can generate funds and run it as a commercial entity. So I think it’s important that we’ve a level of skilled manpower available in the state.”

•Photo: Gov. Akpabio presenting a memento to Prof. O. O. Bassey, President Association of Nigerian Surgeons during a courtesy call Wednesday at Governor’s Office, Uyo.