The aviation-related industry is one of the growing opportunities for youth to be employed. It is also one of the expensive areas to train youths, especially those who come from poor and middle-income homes. It cost N12,838,000 to train a pilot in the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). How many parents, civil servants, can afford such amount?
Education is a human right and it is even enshrined in the constitution “Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.”
With the North having more than 11 million out-of-school children and with the thousands of students graduating from tertiary institutions without any hope of gaining any form of government or private sector employment, it is therefore imperative for government to sponsor students or offer scholarships to study at the college to enable indigenes of the state to work in any part of the world.
There is a current estimate by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that shows in the years to come, from 2024-2043, there would be a demand for 674,000 pilots worldwide, with this in mind there is need for the Bauchi State government to put this into consideration.
Bauchi State’s indigenes must be trained to compete not only locally but globally. In the past, the general scholarship that was offered to Bauchi State students had helped them to be world-class professionals. The state government as a matter of priority must ensure its scholarship programme adequately covers for courses that will make indigenes global players.
We eagerly await the state government’s response on this plea.
Aliyu Adamu Toro is 200 Level Q.S student, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi