NGO urges girls on aviation careers

A non-profit organisation, Young Aerospace Professionals Initiative, has urged girls nationwide to pursue careers in aviation as aircraft engineers, flight dispatchers, and leaders in the sector.

The founder and Executive Director of YAPI, Annie Ojewunmi, said this on Friday during the AeroGirls Programme held at Prudence City College in Yaba, Lagos.

The event, which had about 50 girls in participation, was sponsored by AnCore ARSP, Aura Assurance, and the Verb Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Club.

Ojewunmi said, “Today is a very special day for me and all of us at the Young Aerospace Professionals Initiative. For us, Project AeroGirls is not just about celebrating Girls in Aviation Day. It is about giving young Nigerian girls the exposure, opportunity, and confidence to see aviation as something they can be part of.

“We wanted the girls to understand that aviation goes beyond becoming a pilot. They can become aircraft engineers, flight dispatchers, aviation leaders, and so much more. You cannot aspire to what you have never seen, and sometimes, one conversation with the right person can change how a young girl sees her future.

I know the girls we met today left knowing that they belong in the aviation industry too.”

Ojewunmi also facilitated a session on careers in aircraft maintenance engineering, aeronautical engineering, and piloting, stressing the need to guide students on the required academic subjects and entry pathways.

The Principal of Prudence City College, Akinwoye Sunday, said hosting the programme would inspire young girls to explore aerospace, technology, and innovation.

“The programme equipped students with valuable knowledge and practical exposure to the aerospace and aviation industry. The college appreciates the organisers for empowering the next generation of girls in aerospace and looks forward to having more programmes here,” Sunday said.

A participant, who identified herself simply as Bolaji, described the sessions as engaging, adding that she learned about various career options in the sector.

“I never knew there were so many different roles beyond being a pilot. I hope to be an aeronautical engineer one day,” she said.

The event featured a session with Oluwarantimi Bukola, who shared how her background in Mechatronics Engineering and mentorship through YAPI helped shape her career path in aviation.