Stakeholders, traditional rulers, lawmakers and community leaders across the South-East have called on Igbo youths to embrace opportunities in the aviation sector as a pathway to tackle unemployment, foster innovation, and drive development in the region.

The call came on Saturday during the South-East Aviation Summit and Face of Eastwing 2025 Competition, organised by the Eastwing Aviation Institute, Enugu, through its Eastwing Youth Foundation. The event, which highlighted aviation’s potential to transform the fortunes of young Nigerians, also celebrated emerging talents, with 18-year-old Ifechukwu Uyammadu crowned Face of Eastwing 2025. His victory came with a full scholarship to study any aviation course of his choice at the institute, a gesture many described as symbolic of new opportunities for South-East youths.

Declaring the summit open, the Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Samuel Asadu, said the South-East must not lag behind in aviation training and careers. He urged governments, investors, and philanthropists to sponsor youths into the industry, describing the sector as one where other regions were already excelling.

Asadu commended the institute’s founder, Christopher Edeh, for establishing a world-class aviation school in Enugu, describing the summit as a “game-changing event” for the region. Supporting this, the Deputy Provost of the institute, Segun Babalola, warned that fewer than 10 per cent of Igbo youths had shown interest in aviation. He stressed that aviation today extends beyond flight operations to cover technology, logistics, and global trade, making it vital for the region’s competitiveness.

Beyond the speeches and competition, the summit also featured the launch of the Eastwing Aviation Institute Magazine, leadership awards for individuals and organisations, as well as cultural dances, music, and networking sessions that blended tradition with modern aspirations. (Sunday PUNCH)