Keyamo urges stakeholders to identify young talents

..as Travel & Business News marks 20th anniversary

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has urged stakeholders in the industry to be deliberate and intentional in identifying, encouraging, nurturing and harvesting young talents to ensure a sustainable supply of manpower to the aviation sector.

He made the plea in a Keynote Address delivered by Obiageli Orah, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the Grand Finale of the 14th National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2025) and Air Transport Youth Empowerment Seminar held on May 24, 2025 at the Training Hall of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event, which is aimed at discovering hidden talents and raising future aviation professionals in an effort to address the challenges of ageing workforce and skilled manpower shortage in the sector, had as its theme: ‘Navigating Career Entry Challenges to Secure the Future.’

“As a globally regulated sector, it is important that stakeholders put measures in place to continually attract the right quality and quantity of human resources required to move the industry forward. It is important to note that programmes such as this, are avenues through which we can breed, nurture, and harvest such human resources. Travel and Business News is doing a great job in this regard and deserves accolades,” Festus Keyamo said.

Declaring the forum open, the Minister added that, “One of the critical challenges facing the industry is the ageing and retiring workforce leading to widened knowledge gaps and operational issues. This programme, I believe, is among other things, designed to make aviation appealing to the younger generation while encouraging them to develop interest in taking up a career in the industry.”

Ewos Iroro, NTEC Founder and National Coordinator, said the initiative was birthed in 2009 to encourage young Nigerians to take up careers in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors as well as drum up greater awareness and support for the air transport industry.

“NTEC has raised many young talents who are now working in various fields of aviation. And a few days ago, one of our past winners of this competition, Miss Adeola Peace who graduated from Murtala Muhammed Airport Secondary School, Ikeja several years back, got her Masters Degree as an Aeronautical Engineer,” he disclosed.

Chris Najomo, the DG, NCAA, was represented by Olubukola Teriba, the Regional Manager Lagos. He remarked that. “This year’s theme reflects the shared concerns of countless young Nigerians who seek to make their mark in aviation, tourism, and the wider transport ecosystem but often face steep barriers to entry: lack of access, limited mentorship, financial constraints, skill mismatches, and systemic gaps.

“I commend the organizers for their unwavering commitment to youth development, intellectual engagement, and aviation advocacy. Your vision to connect young Nigerians with the world of air transport and tourism through writing, dialogue, and mentorship is both timely and commendable.”