Need for girl-child to take up career in aviation

AVIATION profession in time past has been known to be men’s affairs. However, more women are now building their career in air transport sector, thereby contributing to the growing or development of aviation industry in Nigeria.

Indeed, Nigeria aviation industry has seen a lot of competent and efficient women who have headed some sensitive offices or handling important positions at the airports, among the airlines, agencies, parastatals and the ministry.

Therefore, girl-child in the secondary, tertiary schools and those inspiring to excel in the field of aviation are being encouraged to keep focused on the road to becoming an aviator in the future, if combined with hard work.

Girls in Aviation Day is an action packed day that was planned to introduce girls to aviation thereby expanding their growing interest in aviation careers. The event also afforded the girls the opportunity to interact with amazing role models ranging from airline pilots to aircraft engineers, aeromedical doctors, cabin crew as well as the industry executives.

Speaking during the maiden edition of Girls in Aviation Day on Tuesday in Lagos, the President, Glowing Wings Chapter, Women in Aviation International (WAI), Mrs. Ify Megwa stated that the members of glowing wings chapter have been going round schools, providing mentoring and financial support to diligent students.

Megwa, who noted that the glowing wings chapter has been committed since its inception in 2012 in Nigeria, said that WAI has been providing networking, education, mentoring and giving scholarship opportunities for women that are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

She added that: “As we all know, aviation training is capital intensive, it is on this note that we are calling on all kind spirited individuals and organizations to join hands with us in providing sponsorship for training of diligent girls who are willing to take up careers in the aviation industry”.

According to her, the role of women in the Nigerian aviation sector cannot be over emphasized, maintaining that the industry can boast of outstanding and illustrious women who had at one time or the other recorded landmark achievements in their chosen careers.
Speaking further, the President noted that the whole essence of WAI is mentor and nature young Nigerian girls who will have their DNA wired up for the various careers in aviation, stressing that ‘right now women are in very short supply in the industry’.

Her words: “We are no longer satisfied with women being politically appointed to head the industry without a clue of what the sector is all about. We are aspiring to have women who are trained aviators to fill up these political positions so that they can eat, breath and sleep aviation for the betterment and sound policy making of the industry”.

We say from today that a woman’s place is no longer in the kitchen but in the cockpit, control tower, ramps, aeromedical clinics, and airport terminals or buildings. Never the less, we make great wives, as you will see from the beautiful women who will be speaking to you today. You see our men have the best of both worlds and they are better for it, “ Megwa added.

Meanwhile, towards addressing the dearth of manpower in the aviation sector, another group of women professionals in the sector under the aegis of Women in Aviation, (WIA) has brought together over 80 girls to mentor them to take up career in the industry.
The President of WIA, Nigeria, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, stated that the essence of the ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ is not only to attract girls to the careers potential in the aviation industry and to catch them young but also to correct the impression that the sector is for men only.

She disclosed that presently, 28 states in the United States have proclaimed September 26, every year as the ‘Girls in Aviation Day’. Ndudinachi, who said this while speaking at the first ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos last weekend, added that one of the objectives of the body was to encourage the young ones to build up their future in aviation.

Speaking further, the she stated that the history of the ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ goes back to what was known as ‘Daughters Day’ and later became Girls in Aviation at the body’s annual WAI conference.

She stated that anybody that had been following events over the years would agree that this sort of event had impact in communities and that this fact led to the celebration of the ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ worldwide.

According to Ndudinachi, “Women in Aviation Nigeria chapter just want to see girls interacting with positive role models and considering aviation as they make their college plans.
“Today, we introduced girls ton role models, train them and place them in supportive atmosphere to encourage them to take up career in aviation”
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, whose aircraft was used to teach over 80 young girls, who were present, stated that it was delightful for the airline to be chosen for the history-making event.