By Chinelo Obogo
The management of International Aviation College, Ilorin has appealed to the Kwara State Governor, Mall. AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq to come to the aid of the college to remain in operation. The college restated the need for adequate funding of the institution to prevent to from being shut by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Acting Rector of the College, Capt. Yakubu Okatahi stated this when the governor paid an official visit to the college where he decorated five graduating students who have completed their commercial and private pilot license courses. Okatahi and other officials of the college commended the governor for the regular subvention to the college which has enabled the school to remain in operation.
He said the Governor’s recent release of N75million enabled the College to purchase new aircraft engine and propeller, 10,000 litres of jet-A1, and repair of the College’s fuel dump, among others. The Rector however appealed to the governor for increased funding of the college to enable it meet all the requirements stipulated by the regulatory authority.
Capt. Okatahi told the Governor that the present management inherited 55 students when it came on board in March, 2022 and said 27 of them had so far been graduated. He said the College can do better with sufficient funding by the State Government. He, however, assured the Governor that the current management would not disappoint the state government for the trust and confidence reposed in it.
Registrar of the College, Mr. Mohammed Jimada Jibril congratulated the governor on his re-election for second term and as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and pleaded with him for the upward review of the College’s monthly subvention to enable it implement salary structure for her staff as obtained in sister institutions like NCAT, Zaria.
The Governor, who decorated some of the graduating students urged the College to put all its need in writing to his office. He advised the management of the college to avoid a repeat of the mismanagement which drew back the progress of the institution with withdrawal of the Nigerian Air Force and Navy from the college.