Aviation firm partners Enugu institute to expand training access in Nigeria

An international aviation training provider, Sofema Aviation Services, has partnered with Eastwing Aviation Institute to widen access to professional aviation education in Nigeria.

The agreement was announced on Monday by Christian Agadibe, Executive Director of the Eastwing Youth Foundation. He said the initiative would be delivered through the Sofema Bursary Programme.

Under the partnership, Nigerian students and industry professionals will gain access to more than 525 courses aligned with standards set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Sofema Aviation Services, headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, provides regulatory and vocational training for aviation professionals worldwide. The collaboration will see Eastwing Aviation Institute work with Sofema and its digital platform, Sofema Online, to deliver specialised online courses.

These will cover areas including Safety Management Systems, Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation requirements, aviation quality assurance, maintenance planning and compliance, as well as leadership and management.

Mr Agadibe said the programme is designed to address skills gaps in Nigeria’s aviation sector and equip young professionals with internationally recognised competencies.

“This initiative builds on the momentum of recent regional engagements, highlighting the need for greater investment in aviation training across Africa,” he said.

Chief Executive of Sofema Aviation Services, Steve Bentley, described the partnership as “an investment in the future of aviation safety and professionalism” on the continent.

He added that the company would support the scheme with a €10,000 bursary to help reduce financial barriers to training.

Sofema says it has worked with more than 3,500 aviation organisations globally, issuing over 700,000 certificates and developing hundreds of technical and regulatory courses.

Founder of the Eastwing Youth Foundation, Dr Christopher Edeh, called the agreement a “transformative milestone”, saying it would help align local training with global standards while building a pipeline of skilled aviation professionals in Nigeria.