President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bankole Bernard, has called for more improvement in manpower development in the aviation sector, noting that considering the country’s population and the role aviation plays in the nation’s economy, there should be more skilled manpower in the sector.
Bernard who made this known in Lagos during the celebration of Mrs. Adeola Alade who broke record as International Air Transport Association (IATA) best performer in March last year examination taken across 200 countries, said that Nigeria needs to have more IATA certified training centres so that the country would have enough manpower foe the industry.
He commended Alade who attended IATA certified training centre, Lagos Aviation Academy (LAA) and said that her success was as a result of hard work and dedication, noting that the Academy, which he is the Managing Director, is poised to bring out the best in anyone who showed dedication in his or her studies.
‘I am happy that the best IATA performer came from this school. The school was a vision that came from pressure mounted by the global air transport body, which frowned at the fewer number of IATA certified training schools in Nigeria despite our huge population and urged us to establish more schools. We have only 10 of such schools and out of that 10, only three renews its certification regularly.
“This was what prompted me to establish this IATA training centre, but you know that to run a school is not cheap and if there is any gain that would accrue it comes in the long-term, but it gives me joy that I have provided a platform to shape the destiny of others.
Bernard also lamented that travel agents are not given the respect due them and noted that travel agency is a professional job who provide critical service for the air transport sector. He said that travel agencies contribute over N500 billion to the nation’s GDP.
“I happen to be the biggest travel agency in Nigeria but I contribute less than 10 per cent of the entire sales, which means that there are so many opportunities out there we can benefit from,” he said.
The IATA best performer, Mrs. Alade was rewarded with monetary gift and automatic employment by the NANTA President.
THISDAY
