Chief Executive Officer of Furalle Limited, Stephanie Obiano, has said Nigeria cannot fully unlock its aviation potential if women remain underrepresented in critical areas of the industry.

Obiano stressed that women must move beyond participation to leadership roles in safety management, regulatory bodies, airline operations, airport management, and technical engineering.

According to her, women bring transformational leadership, operational discipline, risk sensitivity, and long-term strategic thinking—qualities essential for the growth of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements (ASAs), she noted that while such agreements present vast opportunities, they do not automatically translate into economic gains without local capacity.

“Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements with multiple countries provide enormous opportunity, but agreements alone do not generate economic benefit—capacity does,” she said.

“If we lack skilled personnel to operate, maintain, and manage aviation infrastructure, foreign operators will dominate the value chain. Our institution exists to ensure Nigerians capture that value.”

Obiano explained that her decision to venture into aviation education was driven by the country’s reliance on expatriate expertise in key technical areas.

“Nigeria has immense aviation potential, yet we still depend on foreign expertise in critical sectors. That imbalance is not sustainable for a country with our economic aspirations,” she said.

She noted that FurAlle Aviation College was established to develop indigenous aviation manpower at scale, adding that aviation plays a strategic role beyond transportation, including trade, tourism, security, and economic sovereignty.

“If Nigeria is serious about becoming a $1 trillion economy, we must build technical capacity locally,” she added.
Addressing challenges as a woman in a male-dominated industry, Obiano said competence remains her strongest tool.

“In aviation, credibility is everything—you cannot fake it. I focus on delivering value, building systems, and solving problems. When you consistently deliver results, resistance turns into respect,” she said.

She also emphasised the importance of collaboration, noting that success in aviation requires engagement with regulators, operators, ground handlers, and financiers.

“Aviation is a collaborative industry. Strategy and emotional intelligence are just as important as technical expertise,” she said.

Obiano dispelled the notion that aviation is limited to pilots or the wealthy, describing it as a diverse, skills-driven industry.

“Aviation spans engineering, safety management, logistics, airport operations, air traffic services, maintenance, cargo management, regulatory compliance, and security. It is not a status-driven field—it is a skills-driven one,” she said.

On institutional values, she highlighted safety, technical excellence, integrity, regulatory compliance, discipline, and professionalism as core principles guiding FurAlle Aviation College.

“We are not about producing certificate holders; we aim to produce industry-ready professionals,” she added.
On safety and training standards, Obiano said the institution aligns with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and global best practices, with a strong emphasis on Safety Management Systems (SMS), human factors, and operational risk assessment.

“Safety culture is not a module—it is embedded in everything we do,” she said, adding that modern training must incorporate digital simulation, AI-based learning, compliance analytics, and global certification pathways.

She stressed that capacity building will determine whether Nigeria fully benefits from its expanding aviation footprint and bilateral agreements.

Reflecting on her leadership journey, Obiano identified underestimation as a major challenge.

“Early on, there were assumptions that aviation strategy and infrastructure discussions were too technical. I overcame that by mastering policy, regulation, operations, and bilateral frameworks. Knowledge neutralises bias, and competence dismantles stereotypes,” she said.

Offering advice to young women, she urged them to invest in technical knowledge, build confidence rooted in competence, seek mentorship, and remain resilient.

“Aviation is not a quick-win industry—it is a precision industry,” she said.

“To every young Nigerian woman: there is space for you—not just in the cabin, but in the control tower, boardroom, engineering bays, and regulatory leadership. Nigeria’s aviation future will be built by those bold enough to prepare for it—and we are preparing.”