In a bid to empower and reintegrate former militants from the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government’s Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has announced the commencement of a compulsory five-week mandatory training for 20 ex-agitators.
The goal of this training is to provide the trainees with certification and type rating as licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, thereby equipping them with the necessary skills for employment opportunities in the aviation industry.
Prior to this training, the ex-militants will undergo a 12-month on-the-job training (OJT) after successfully completing the class course phase of the programme.
These beneficiaries are part of the larger group of 75 Pilots/Aircraft Maintenance Engineers enrolled in the PAP Aviation Training Scheme. The first set of 20 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers successfully graduated from this scheme on October 31, 2023.
During the Program Inauguration Event in Lagos, the PAP Interim Administrator, Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd), delivered a goodwill message to the beneficiaries. He expressed satisfaction with the launch of training for the second batch, highlighting it as another promise fulfilled by the programme.
Representing Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd), Wilfred Musa, the Head of Reintegration at PAP, emphasized the rapid expansion of the global aviation industry and the increasing focus on manpower development. He noted that this specialized programme positions PAP as a critical supplier of strategic manpower to the industry.
Musa further stated that the PAP is committed to consistently creating cutting-edge opportunities for career advancement in the Niger Delta region, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” for the region and Nigeria as a whole.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Ndiomu challenged them to prove skeptics wrong who question the value of the programme. He urged them to strive for excellence as they represent not only the future of the Niger Delta but also the future of Nigeria and the global aviation industry.
“The PAP has provided you with all you require to succeed on this journey. In return, we expect nothing less than excellence,” Ndiomu declared.
In his remarks, Captain Austin Omame, the Managing Director of Alom Aviation Services Ltd, commended the PAP Interim Administrator for pushing forward with the Aviation Resuscitation Program. Omame noted that with their OJT and type rating licenses, the trainees would be able to secure aviation jobs anywhere in the world.
Speaking on behalf of the second batch trainees, Onyeama Kingsley promised that they would reciprocate the efforts of the PAP with dedication and hard work.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme continues to demonstrate its commitment to empowering and transforming the lives of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region. By providing them with specialized training and opportunities for career advancement, the programme is not only uplifting individuals but also contributing to the overall growth and development of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
