Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) has emphasised the need for effective training of aviation workers, stressing that such trainings will make them to remain current on the job.
The NAFSA call for effective training is coming on the heels of the body’s visit to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria led by its President, Comrade Sunday Ugbeikwu,
Ugbeikwu observed that for fire personnel in the country’s aviation industry to remain relevant and current, it was necessary for them to embark on training and retraining.
He lauded the management of NCAT for priotising training for its personnel.
NAFSA President noted that it was necessary for the association to collaborate with NCAT in a bid to foster growth in the sector.
He maintained that NCAT as an International Civil Aviation Oragnisation (ICAO) Regional Certified Training Institute and an approved Aviation Training Organization (ATO) by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Organisation (NCAA), the institution remained the best place where technical aviation personnel, including firefighters could acquire competency trainings.
Ugbeikwu explained that: “It is within the purview of NAFSA to ensure that all our members acquire qualitative trainings. Also, it is necessary for us to know if the Airport Emergency Training School (AETS) at NCAT can adequately accommodate the firefighters. As we all know, the AETS is a new faculty at NCAT.”
He noted that one of the major interests of NAFSA was to enhance cooperation, liaise and render advises to the relevant authorities in the sector and protect the interests of its members working in the various agencies.
In his response, Capt. Alkali Modibbo, the Rector of NCAT, whi lauded the leadership of NAFSA for the courtesy visit, said through collaboration, the industry would grow.
Modibbo who was represented by Mr. Joseph Wayas, the Deputy Rector, NCAT, gave the general overview of the training institution.
Modibbo assured the executives of NAFSA of its support to collaborate and cooperate with area of training and manpower development,
He stated that the college was adequately equipped to cater for the welfare of all its students, including the firefighters on training in the college.
Also speaking, Engr. Kole Uhuegho, the Head of School, Airport Emergency Training School, NCAT, explained that at the moment, AETS had three trained Instructors and nine untrained assistant instructors at the college in addition to some senior instructors that could be invited from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) whenever the need arises.
Uhuegho said the Initial Firefighting Course and Aircraft Emergency Simulation Training are the two courses offered by the college for firefighters, stressing that so far, only the latter had been approved by the NCAA.
According to him, the Initial Firefighting Course and three other courses are pending approval before the apex regulatory agency.
He also charged NAFSA Executives to be familiar with the statistics of their untrained members, stressing that this would lend credence to the pursuit of training and retraining of their members.
NAFSA had paid such courtesy visits to NCAA, National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) in the past.
