The Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings, Bankole Bernard, has called for a renewed commitment to capacity building, professionalism, and recognition of approved training organisations in the country.

Bernard, who is also the chairman of the Association of Aviation Training Organisations of Nigeria (AATON), said that the local sector would not grow to its potential until it collectively deepened capacity and professionalism across the value chain.

Bernard told reporters, in Lagos recently, that the association, under his watch, has taken on the challenge to deepen capacity in the critical sector.

He emphasized the need for greater recognition of AATON by government officials, noting, “Even the minister might not be fully aware of the association’s existence.”

Bernard stressed that AATON plays a crucial role in developing aviation professionals, which is essential for the industry’s growth.

“The personnel aspect of the industry needs to be taken seriously for any significant development to occur. We aim to educate the public on the diverse career opportunities within aviation beyond being a pilot. We need to make people aware of other professions in aviation,” he said.

By leveraging AATON, Bernard hopes to encourage the establishment of more aviation schools, like the Lagos Aviation Academy, which Finchglow Holdings founded in 2017 and has since graduated over 2,400 students.

Reflecting on his tenure as the president of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bernard expressed pride in the progress made.

“Before I became NANTA president, it was difficult for people to see the association’s impact. Today, NANTA is known and respected,” he said. He aspires to achieve similar visibility and impact for AATON.

He expressed his commitment to enhancing professionalism in the aviation industry, believing it would attract younger generations and foreign investors.

“Professionalism is the first step to shared prosperity. If we can up the ante, I see a transformed travel industry that is dynamic and respected, capable of drawing significant foreign investment. We can change the scope of the industry to become attractive, even for foreign investors,” he said.