International Civil Aviation Reaffirms Support To Nigeria On Aviation University

The President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council, Salvatore Siacchitano, has restated the commitment of the organisation to partner with Nigeria in the establishment and provision of funding for the faculty of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja the nation’s capital.

Mr, Siacchitano gave the assurance when Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, led the country’s delegation to the 41st General Assembly of the organisation to his office at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal Canada.

“ICAO will always be part of every effort geared towards addressing the manpower needs of member nations in order to service and manage the ever-expanding Aviation industry and Nigeria’s decision to establish the university is a welcome development.

“African Aviation and Aerospace University will represent a new channel for the training of professional managers for the industry, especially within the African region, being the first of its kind in the continent.”

He, therefore, promised to personally visit the site for the University during the forthcoming ICAO Air Negotiation event (ICAN) being hosted by Nigeria in December this year.

He said the visit would give him a clearer picture of the immediate needs and the level of participation of the organisation.

Commitment

Mr, Siacchitano also promised to visit the Nigerian President to express ICAO’s appreciation to the government of Nigeria for its commitment to the ideals of the organisation at all times, saying that the acceptance to host the International Commission for Air Navigation event was a clear demonstration of the said commitment.

Senator Sirika, who expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to ICAO Council President for his reassurance of the Council’s earlier pledge to be involved in the University project, informed him that all the necessary regulatory requirements have been met and approved by the National Universities Commission.

“Senator Sirika also assured that the  forthcoming International Commission for Air Navigation event holding in Nigeria will be a resounding success just like the earlier ICAO events hosted by Nigeria.”

Appreciation

The government of Qatar has also expressed its readiness to participate in the establishment and running of the African Aviation and Aerospace University located in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Senator Hadi Sirika thanked the Qatari Minister for believing in the university project and said that the involvement of the country would further deepen the relationship between the two countries.

The two Ministers agreed to meet further to develop modalities for partnership in the project, given the interests being shown by some ICAO members and the organisation itself.

Olusola Akintonde.