Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, yesterday, Monday, August 25, 2025, received cadet pilots and engineers who have just returned to the state after a period of training in France and Ethiopia, respectively.
The governor who was very delighted to receive the state-sponsored cadets, said he was particularly delighted that they were all very young people, and specifically appreciated his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, for his vision that brought about Ibom Air, as well as the sponsorship of the cadets to the aviation academies in France and Ethiopia.
The 15 pilots, who trained at the Airbus Flight Academy in Toulouse, France, and the 20 aircraft engineers, who qualified at the Ethiopian Aviation University in Addis Ababa, were congratulated by a visibly happy governor, who expressed joy that the young beneficiaries excelled with distinction.
Governor Eno acknowledged that successive leaders had each contributed to the progress the state enjoys today.
Speaking on the broader significance of the achievement, the governor said: “This is human capital development in action. For the young people, we are happy that you have made us proud. I am glad you went through the application and online selection process to qualify for this training. This is our message to Akwa Ibom youths: take advantage of available portals and other opportunities to develop yourselves. We will continue to open our doors, but you must step in and make the most of them.”
He further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the growth of Ibom Air, describing it as “our airline and our pride”.
He revealed that the state government is making substantial investments in the aviation ecosystem, with 10 major projects ongoing at the Victor Attah International Airport, including the Aviation Village and other supporting infrastructure designed to strengthen the airline’s operations.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ibom Air, Captain Mfon Udom, expressed appreciation to the state government for sponsoring the programme, describing the outstanding performance of the cadets as remarkable.
Some of the newly graduated cadets, speaking on behalf of their colleagues, expressed gratitude to the state government for helping them achieve their dreams. They particularly thanked Governor Eno for personally visiting them during their training in France and pledged to contribute their expertise to the continued growth of Ibom Air and the state’s aviation sector.
