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Consulate partners Nigeria-South Africa aviation summit to scout sector talent
In a landmark meeting held in Lagos, the South African Consulate General, led by Dr. Bobby Moroe, expressed support for the launch of the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Exchange Program, a strategic initiative designed to build capacity, develop careers, and strengthen collaboration in Africa’s aviation sector.
This pilot exchange program is the first major step under the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum, founded by aviation advocate Toni Ukachukwu. It is being executed by Aviators Management Academy and backed by Walk for Love Africa, an NGO focused on capacity building and socioeconomic development in the travel and tourism sector.
The program will train and certify young Africans in the aviation sector, beginning with an intensive online training session, followed by a seven-week in-person course at the Academy of Aviation in South Africa. Upon successful completion, candidates will receive a South African cabin crew license. Upon returning to Nigeria, participants will complete the local requirements to obtain a Nigerian aviation license, thereby gaining dual certification and broader career prospects. Participants are also offered automatic engagement opportunities with various airlines in Nigeria to kick-start their aviation careers.
“This program is about more than training cabin crew, it’s about unlocking Africa’s aviation potential by investing in its people,” said Toni Ukachukwu, Founder of the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum. “There’s a growing skills gap in the aviation sector across Africa, and this initiative is a direct response to that. We’re building bridges, breaking barriers, and preparing the next generation of African aviators.”
In a bold move to encourage technological innovation in aviation, the program has been designed as a fully digital-first initiative, beginning with online training and virtual assessments.
“This deliberate use of technology reflects a commitment to leveraging aviation tech to leapfrog infrastructural and geographical barriers and promote digital transformation in the sector,” said Chinedu Engele, the Tech consultant.
The exchange program is being launched in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authorities of Nigeria and South Africa and aims to promote greater inter-African cooperation, travel, and tourism by addressing the continent’s critical aviation skills gap.
As part of its long-term vision in capacity building and career development, Walk for Love Africa is setting up a Capital Fund to support aspiring aviation professionals with seed funding and scholarships. According to global aviation forecasts, Africa will require more than 20,000 pilots, technicians, and cabin crew members in the next decade, a demand this initiative is poised to help meet.
Furthermore, the founder of Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum is currently in discussions with the African Airlines Association on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The goal is to establish a pan-African framework that would allow aviation professionals trained through the program to work across African airlines, fostering deeper integration, mobility, and collaboration across the continent.
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