By Itohan Abara-Laserian
The Lagos Aviation Academy (LAA), on Tuesday, unveiled a two-story building to bridge training gap in the aviation industry.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN) reports that the academy, a subsidiary of Finchglow Holdings, trains aviation professionals for successful careers in the industry.
It is located on Toyin Street, Ikeja.
The Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings, Mr Bernard Bankole, said at the unveiling that development of a country or an organisation would require adequate education of the workforce.
Bankole said that it had become necessary to add value to the aviation industry.
According to Bankole, the LAA had, in seven years, graduated more than 2,000 aviation professionals.
He expressed the hope that, with the new building, more professionals would be trained.
He said that training schools in Nigeria were in short supply compared to the nation’s population.
“We have finally come to a befitting place for the academy.
“This is to set the record and the path right that the government needs to look more into how to develop education and our people.
“In every organisation, in every country, human capital is the greatest asset to have,” he said.
Bankole said that the old building had only four classrooms with a capacity of 20 persons, noting that the new one had eight bigger classrooms with a capacity of over 40 persons.
He disclosed that the new building had apartments for students coming from outside of Lagos and Lagos residents who would not want to be commuting daily to and from the campus.
Bankole said that the academy underwent rigorous regulations and certification from the Association of Approved Training Organisations in Nigeria, International Air Transport Association and NCAA to achieve its current status.
The Finchglow boss called for more external and government support, saying that collaboration with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies would help to increase professionalism in the industry.
Mr Bolaji Durojaiye, the Head of School, LAA, said that the academy would need the support of industry stakeholders to achieve its goals.
Mrs Bukola Tariba, a Regional Manager at NCAA, who represented the Director-General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said that the authority would continue to ensure international standards.