Enugu – The Enugu State Government has appealed to the Ethiopian Airlines to further expand its activities in the state by establishing an aviation school.
The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the state, Mr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, made the appeal when a delegation from the airline paid him a visit in Enugu on Thursday.
Ogbu-Nwobodo noted that the state government was desirous of the airline expanding and building a training school, whether in flight, aircraft engineering or even air traffic control.
He said that the government would provide the enabling environment if the airline considered Enugu for such a school.
“We will be glad for a training school to be established here, no matter the kind of training as far as it is in aviation.
“Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is ready to partner with you to provide training and jobs for the teeming youths in the state; which will further boost the economy of the state.
“The government will do all within its limited resources to create the enabling environment for the training school to be established and be operational,’’ the commissioner said.
Responding, the leader of the delegation, Mrs Firiehiwot Mekonnen, said that as part of the airline’s 70th anniversary, it was planning to expand its activities and investment in support services and manpower development.
“We are looking at establishing aviation schools that will train and produce high level manpower for the industry since we are the leading airline in terms of experience and long term customer relation,’’ she said.
The leader of delegation said the airline was proud to associate with Enugu and the South East and promised to relay the request to the headquarters.
“We look forward to more areas we could partner and extend the existing mutually beneficial relationship between Enugu State and the airline,’’ Mekonnen said. (NAN)