The Group Managing Director of Finchglow Holdings, Bernard Bankole, said that the establishment of Lagos Aviation Academy (LAA) was driven by a desire to impact lives, rather than profit generation.

Speaking during a job fair organised by the company in Lagos to mark its ninth anniversary, Bankole said the institution was created to provide specialised aviation training and career opportunities for young Nigerians seeking direction after graduation.

Bankole informed that over the nine years, the LAA had graduated over 5,000 students, many of whom, he said, were now employed across airlines, travel agencies and other aviation-related organisations.

He explained that the academy’s success should not be measured solely by return on investment, stressing that its primary objective was to empower people and create opportunities for career growth.

Bankole noted that instead of holding a lavish anniversary celebration, the academy chose to organise its maiden Job Fair with the theme: ‘Connecting Talents to Opportunities.’

He said the event enabled students and alumni to interact directly with potential employers and industry professionals.

He said: “We felt it was better to create opportunities for our students than organise a party. This is in line with our mission of impacting lives.”

Despite the achievements recorded, Bankole said he was not yet satisfied with the academy’s reach, considering Nigeria’s population of over 230 million people.

He expressed hope that more individuals and organisations would embrace similar initiatives to expand opportunities for youths.

Also, the Head of School, Bolaji Durojaiye, said LAA had maintained a strong record of academic excellence, achieving over 75 per cent success in international examinations.

He added that the academy produced the best results in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Foundation Programme in several years and was recognised as ‘Aviation School of the Year in 2025.’