12th July, 2012
At least 100 indigenes of Kano state are to be sponsored by the state government for training as pilots and other aviation professionals, the state Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has announced.
Disclosing this while receiving the General Manager, Mideast Aviation Academy, Jordan, Abdallah Twerish at the government house in Kano, Governor Kwankwaso stated that it is the vision of the government to ensure that Kano citizens dominate the aviation industry in Nigeria in the near future.
He said following initial discussions with the managements of International Aviation College in Kwara state and that of the Nigerian College of Aviation, Zaria, it was discovered that the two institutions cannot provide slots for all the proposed 100 indigenes of Kano state.
For this reason, Governor Kwankwaso said the Jordanian aviation institute was invited for discussion on how the government can collaborate with the institute on training of prospective pilots and aviation professionals from the state.
“Apart from this, we have commenced preliminary dialogue with Gulf Medical University, Dubai, UEA for possible establishment of a medical institution in Kano. These are part of efforts we are making to make sure that our citizens make use of all the opportunities they deserve,” the governor maintained.
He said the government has made significant progress on a similar programme whereby 500 Kano graduates with first class and second class upper degrees will be sponsored for postgraduate studies overseas, highlighting that the recruitment of 1003 personnel into the state civil service would also commence soon.
Therefore, Governor Kwankwaso appealed to people in the state to encourage their young ones to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government, work hard and earn decent living so that Kano would attain its rightful position in the scheme of things in the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the General Manager, Mideast Aviation Academy, Jordan, Abdallah Twerish said the institute will be happy to collaborate with the state government in training its students, explaining that the academy is internationally approved and recognized by professional aviation bodies.
Mr. Twerish noted that at present, some of his academy’s students are from Kano and are among the best students, assuring that qualified indigenes of the state and other international students would not be denied admission into the academy.
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano