Presidential Amnesty Graduates 20 Ex-Niger Delta Agitators as Aircraft  Maintenance Engineers

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has graduated 20 aircraft maintenance engineers under the programme’s aviation training scheme.

The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), stated this Monday in Lagos at the graduation ceremony for the beneficiaries, who were part of the 75 pilots/aircraft maintenance engineers, under the PAP Aviation Resuscitation Programme for ex-agitators of the Niger Delta region.

Ndiomu, who was represented by PAP’s Head of Reintegration, Wilfred Musa, said the amnesty programme was critical to global manpower supply. 

He stated that the various initiatives being deployed by his administration to improve the lives of young people was critical to the supply of manpower globally in strategic industries and trade sectors.

He recalled that upon resumption of office over a year ago, his administration decided to throw its weight behind the Aviation Resuscitation Programme given the enormous opportunities that abound in the aviation industry and its relevance in building adequate human capacity.

Maintaining that the programme has global relevance, he said: “By the time you all get jobs within the aviation industry, whether locally or internationally, you will earn a decent living, access robust knowledge and become a part of a global network which will, in turn, empower you to add value to your families, communities and ultimately, the Niger Delta.” 

He posited that aviation training might be very expensive but no amount was too much to invest in the capacity development of a Niger Deltan. 

In his brief remarks, the CEO of Leadstream Aviation Training Limited, Roland Ahmed, commended the Presidential Amnesty Office for not giving up on the aviation delegates. 

He added that the PAP by reason of this investment has become a strategic supplier of critical manpower to the fastest-growing global industry.

The 20 successful aircraft maintenance engineers will now proceed on a 12-month on-the-job training (OJT) after which they will be licensed and type-rated.

The on-the-job-training (OJT) experience has been fully funded by the PAP.

By this milestone, the Aviation Resuscitation Programme of the PAP is gaining rapid altitude in a bid to fully equip and position trained delegates in the global aviation market space.