By BOLANLE LAWAL

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 Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said during the signing ceremony on Sunday 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 explained that under the partnership, students would annually participate in hands-on, industry-driven training programmes in aviation maintenance and aerospace operations.

According to him, the programme would be fully funded by the airline at no cost to the university, as part of its commitment to human capacity development in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

The Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, commended the airline for partnering with the university to advance technical education and professional training.

She described the collaboration as a strategic investment in students’ exposure and professional development, expressing optimism that it would contribute immensely to the growth of indigenous aviation expertise.

Olarinde added that the partnership had the potential to produce professionals capable of assembling, manufacturing, piloting, and building aircraft locally in the near future. She also noted that the collaboration would serve as a model for effective university–industry partnerships in the country.

In his remarks, elder statesman and founder of ABUAD, Afe Babalola, said that education remained the bedrock of national development.

He appealed to relevant authorities to ensure access to quality education for all Nigerians and thanked United Nigeria Airlines for choosing the university and formalising the partnership.

Babola described the MoU as a significant contribution to manpower development in the aviation and engineering sectors. (NAN)