Ilorin Aviation College trains 250 professionals, records 96% accreditation

…Gov’s intervention safe college from collapse – Rector

The International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, says that the institution has trained no fewer than 250 Aviation professionals since its establishment, attributing its recent achievements and sustained growth to the intervention and support of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Yakubu Okatahi, the Rector of the College, made this known on Tuesday in Ilorin while addressing journalists during a press briefing.

Captain Okatahi said the institution, which was once struggling to remain operational, had witnessed remarkable transformation following the intervention of the State Government.

“Some years ago, the college was virtually at a standstill. In his wisdom, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reconstituted the management and entrusted us with the responsibility of repositioning the institution. We met a difficult situation, but with God’s grace and the support of the governor, we were able to revive the college and put it back on the path of progress,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for his unwavering support, noting that the administration provided funds for the overhaul of aircraft engines and propellers, as well as regular subventions for the payment of staff salaries.

According to the Rector, the college’s core mandate is the training of pilots and flight dispatchers. He revealed that more than 50 pilots had graduated under the current management, many of whom are now gainfully employed by various airlines and making significant contributions to the aviation industry.

Okatahi further disclosed that the institution recently achieved a 96^ score during an audit conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), describing the feat as a reflection of the high standards of training and operational excellence maintained by the college.

He added that the institution is currently concluding the training of another batch of students who are undergoing final assessments by check airmen to determine their readiness for pilot certification.

The rector noted that Kwara State’s favourable weather conditions have continued to make Ilorin a preferred destination for aviation training, unlike some parts of northern and southern Nigeria where adverse weather conditions often disrupt flight operations and training schedules.

He explained that the college had deliberately maintained relatively affordable tuition fees to make aviation training accessible to more Nigerians.

Okatahi also commended the AbdulRazaq’s administration for sponsoring several students and funding advanced training programmes for instructors, pilots and engineers both within and outside the country.

He disclosed that three instructors trained by the college were sponsored by the State Government for further training in South Africa and have since returned to strengthen the institution’s training capacity.

Similarly, he said the Government sponsored the training of two aircraft engineers in Austria, while other engineering personnel are currently undergoing refresher courses to enhance their technical competence.

The Rector, however, appealed to the State Government to provide funding for the acquisition of at least one additional aircraft to boost training capacity and facilitate the timely graduation of students.

He further revealed that the college had trained personnel for the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army, thereby contributing significantly to the development of indigenous aviation manpower.

Okatahi, stressed the need for sustained investment in aviation training, noting that it remains critical to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on expatriate professionals and strengthening the country’s aviation sector.