The Managing Director of Santos Aviation Limited, Mr. Segun Adesanya, has declared his intention to invest in the training of Ogun State youths in aviation careers.
Adesanya announced this in his courtesy visit to the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Ogun State governor, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, in the government house in Abeokuta.
He intimated the Ogun government that this was in line with his investment plan to contribute to the development of the Aviation Sector of the State, giving back to the society through technology transfer in youth development in the aviation careers.
According to him, there is a need to involve the State due to the capability of local use in aviation by having potential training for apprenticeship, which Santos Aviation will sign off the students, and will be eligible to obtain Airframe License from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States after taking the FAA examination.
He said it would be done in partnership with local schools, such as technical schools and polytechnics, with 18 months of training under the FAA certificates in airframe mechanics amongst others.
Adesanya noted that the lack of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country has led to more trained engineers not having the facilities to practice.
He, however, noted that when an MRO is sited in Ogun Airport, it will ease the already saturated Lagos Airport and boost the economy of Ogun State.
While welcoming the COS, Taiwo assured him of the State Government’s support in actualising his project in the State.
The COS stated that the new Ogun Cargo Airport at Iperu, Remo was full of potential and urged the visiting aviator to take advantage of the project and invest.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport for Ogun state, Engr Gbenga Dairo, informed Adesanya that the airport project has been ongoing for the past three years, with its runway built to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft.
Dairo said that the Airport was given the nod to operate as Sunset Airport, also revealing that the State is working on the equipment to get the airport to offer 24 hours service.
The Commissioner also disclosed that light aircraft were already using the airport but assured of speedy approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for commercial operations in the next few months.
The Ogun State Commissioner, who was full of praises for the CEO of Santos Aviation, whom he described as the son of the soil, said the State was considering a curriculum on aviation courses in some technical institutions to enable students interested in aviation to participate.
The Santos boss said there was no room for expansion in Lagos Airport, and Ogun remained a better alternative.
Adesanya has been in the Aviation Industry for over four decades.
He has worked with Delta Airlines as an aircraft engineer, and has established Santos Aviation Limited in the United States, providing aircraft management, interior refurbishing, and cargo operation worldwide, among others.