Engineering students at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), now have a clearer path to hands-on, industry-ready training thanks to a new partnership with United Nigeria Airlines.
The university and the airline recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide practical industrial training for students in the College of Engineering, with a focus on Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said the agreement will allow about 20 400-level students to participate annually in the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at the airline’s facility.
She described the partnership as a long-term, renewable arrangement set for 10 years, with no financial obligation for the university. According to Olarinde, the collaboration is “a strategic investment in human capital development, skills transfer, and the grooming of a new generation of Nigerian aerospace professionals.”
The Vice-Chancellor commended the founder of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, for recognising the university’s excellence and commitment to education. Okonkwo, speaking at the signing, highlighted that the MoU gives ABUAD students full access to the airline’s facilities for practical learning. “We are here to share knowledge. Knowledge is a powerful tool,” he said. “With time, we will explore ways to help prepare engineers even better internally. You deserve the support for all you have done.”
He added that United Nigeria Airlines has one of the most robust maintenance departments in the Nigerian aviation industry and is planning to establish its own maintenance centre. The Chancellor of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola, welcomed the partnership, calling it a significant contribution to manpower development in the aviation and engineering sectors.
“The surest palliative to the country’s problems is education. That was the reason I established this institution — to raise a new generation of Nigerians,” he said.
This agreement goes beyond classroom theory. It promises practical exposure in aerospace and aviation, giving them the opportunity to learn directly in professional settings, gain industry-relevant skills, and improve employability upon graduation.
As competition in the aviation sector grows, initiatives like this position ABUAD students to graduate not only with degrees but with the hands-on experience that industries increasingly demand.
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