Enugu, September 21, 2025 –

Stakeholders, traditional rulers, lawmakers, and community leaders have urged Igbo youths to embrace aviation as a pathway to jobs, innovation, and regional growth.

The call came during the South-East Aviation Summit and Face of Eastwing 2025 Competition, hosted by the Eastwing Aviation Institute in Enugu through its Youth Foundation.

Declaring the summit open, Igwe Samuel Asadu, Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, said the South-East must not lag in aviation training and called for investors and philanthropists to support youth enrollment.

Backing him, the Institute’s Deputy Provost, Dr. Segun Babalola, warned that fewer than 10 percent of Igbo youths had shown interest in aviation compared to other regions. He described aviation as a field that now covers research, technology, logistics, and global trade.

Hon. Raymond Okey Ugwu, Chairman of the Enugu State Assembly’s Youth Committee, pledged legislative support for aviation scholarships and private-sector partnerships. He said aviation could tackle unemployment while positioning the South-East for global competitiveness.

From the grassroots, Engr. Beloved-Dan Anike, Chairman of Enugu East LGA, represented by his deputy Engr. Kingsley Obi Anike, promised to partner with Eastwing to train local youths. Igwe Sunday Nwobodo of Umuisu Autonomous Community, who received a leadership award, urged youths to embrace aviation’s soft skills training.

Founder of the institute, Dr. Christopher Edeh, said aviation was about people, not just machines. He described Eastwing as the only privately-owned aviation hub in the South-East, dedicated to nurturing young talent.

The highpoint was the unveiling of 18-year-old Ifechukwu Uyammadu as the Face of Eastwing 2025, earning a full scholarship to study aviation. His victory was greeted with cheers as he pledged to inspire other young people.

Also recognized for his role in fast-tracking the success of the summit was Mr. Christian Agadibe, Executive Director of the Eastwing Youth Foundation and Editor of Eastwing Aviation Magazine. He was hailed for driving the youth-focused initiatives and coordinating engagements that ensured the summit’s wide reach and impact.

The event further featured the launch of the Eastwing Aviation Magazine, cultural performances, and leadership awards to contributors in youth and aviation development.

Jungle-Journalist.Com reports that stakeholders agreed the South-East must not miss the opportunities in the booming global aviation industry, and urged youths to seize the moment.