Women in Aviation: Kuku calls for more training, mentorship for lasting legacies
By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Thursday called for more training, capacity building and mentorship of women in aviation to drive lasting legacies.
Kuku said this during a courtesy visit by the Women in Aviation International (WAI), Nigeria chapter, to her office on Thursday in Lagos.
According her, women are lagging behind in attaining leadership positions and promotions due to the short supply of trainings in technical and non-technical aspects of the industry.
Kuku, who was also inducted into the WAI, said that there was need to rally support for mentorship so that a good legacy would be left for those coming behind for industry growth.
She said: “We need to continue to differentiate and position ourselves in a way that makes us proud and makes people to reckon with us as an organisation and as a force and in the industry.
“As women in aviation, I do want to make sure that we drive innovation because I have seen that a lot of our women are lagging behind when it comes to training, capability building, and it is also affecting where they are when it comes to promotions.
“It affects them when it gets to being in management positions and in leadership organisations.
“So we need to do everything we can as an organisation to make sure that we position not just ourselves, but the people who come behind us in a way for growth”.
Kuku also pledged FAAN’s unflinching support for women and urged the WAI to explore additional programmes on mentorships, technical and non-technical aspects.
According to her, such engagements will drive and place women on the map in the Nigerian Aviation space.
Responding to the request of WAI on sponsorship of some of FAAN officials who were members, to an international conference scheduled to hold in Orlando, Florida, later this month, Kuku pledged her support and assurance that FAAN would be adequately represented.
She appreciated the women for the visit, stating that there was need to strike a balance when it relates to women equality.
Dr Rejoice Ndudinachi, President of the WAI Nigeria chapter, said that the WAI was created to promote public awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of women in the industry.
Ndudinachi, represented by Modinat Sowemimo, an Engineer and Vice-President of WAI, Nigeria Chapter, said that in ensuring the future and strength of women in aviation, WAI was established.
“We teach and encourage the girls in aviation clubs and airport schools, which is also aimed at female inclusion in the aviation industry.
“At the clubs, we teach and encourage the girls to actively participate in aviation-related career fields, as against the notion that the aviation industry is meant for boys only,” she said.
Earlier, Mrs Elizabeth Aminu, the WAI, Lagos Chairperson, called for support to sponsor some FAAN female staff, who were members, to the exhibition programme in Florida.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WAI, is a not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in the US.
Members include pilots, maintenance technicians, air traffic engineers, air traffic controllers, aviation journalists and flight attendants, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Dianabasi Effiong
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