By Ignatius Ushie
In order to further raise the status of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria as a world class training institution in all areas of Aviation training, the Ministry of Aviation on Thursday in Vilnius, Lithuania, signed an Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with Aviation Solutions Group (ASG), a multi service provider group for global aviation.
In a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja, it was noted that the ASG which is the largest aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance provider globally, will help NCAT in areas of competencies, training and certification in order to position the College as a Regional Training Centre for Africa in civil aviation.
The MoU also has as part of its deliverables the provision of assistance to NCAT for the acquisition of three Full Flight Stimulators and certification of one B737NG Full Flight Simulator.
ASG and its affiliates are also to provide ground handling service, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) and other training services for the College.
Signing the MoU on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Aviation, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole described the event as a watershed, as the collaboration is expected to create new vistas of opportunities for the College in particular and the Aviation sector in general.
He informed the ASG Management that Nigeria was the ultimate destination and hub of Aviation in Africa, and any investment in the sector is an investment worth the while and not misplaced.
He further stated that the Government of Nigeria would continue to invest in the Sector, as the collaboration with the ASG is a sub-set of the Aviation Master Plan envisioned by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and approved by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Speaking on the event, the Business Development Executive of ASG, Amb. Vygaudas Usackas lauded the collaboration and assured of the readiness of the company to ensure the implementation of the MoU to the letter.
He described Nigeria as a very important country in Africa with huge potential and a ready market for aviation, and disclosed that the Group had robust relationships with some domestic airline operators in Nigeria to whom the Group has been offering some mutually beneficial services.
The Permanent Secretary and the Delegation, which included officials of the Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and NCAT, were later taken on tour of the facilities of the Group.
