L-R: Eloyewan Naomi of Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, 3rd Prize winner; Oluwafemi Joshua Oluwaseyifunmi of Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, 1st Prize winner and Patrick Chidiebere David of Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando, Lagos, 2nd Prize winner in the secondary schools category.
The future of the Nigerian aerospace industry was on full display recently as the 15th Annual National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC 2026) and Air Transport Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) held its Grand Finale.
Hosted at the NCAA Annex of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the event, organized by Travel & Business News, marked a fifteen-year legacy of identifying and nurturing the next generation of talent for Nigeria’s aviation sector.
Under the theme “Soaring Beyond Limits: Youth Innovation & Leadership in Aviation,” the summit gathered a prestigious assembly of students, educators, government regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss the strategic role of young thinkers in an era of rapid technological transformation.
Dr. Gbenga Olowo, Chairman of Sabre, Central & West Africa (represented by Nurudeen Adeokin, Sabre’s Marketing & Business Relationship Manager), opened the summit by characterizing the 15-year milestone as a triumph of sustained capacity building.
Dr. Olowo argued that the true evolution of the industry would be catalyzed by “young innovators” and “bold thinkers” rather than physical infrastructure alone.
Detailing Sabre’s commitment to this mission through academic partnerships and social investment, Olowo challenged the finalists to prepare for a professional landscape being fundamentally redefined by artificial intelligence, automation, and data intelligence.
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, provided a roadmap for industry growth. Represented by Mrs. Carol Adekotujo, NCAA’s Deputy Manager, Public Relations for Lagos, the DG linked the event’s theme to the current expansion of national fleets facilitated by the Cape Town Convention. He defined “soaring beyond limits” as the act of exceeding constraints through sheer ambition and resilience.
Capt. Najomo urged students pursuing careers in aerospace engineering, piloting, cabin crew services, and air traffic control to engage in hands-on workshops and early mentorship.
He highlighted that the leadership of tomorrow must be fluent in sustainable technologies, including autonomous flight, electric aircraft, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Representing Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Mrs. Rita Geh, Assistant Comptroller General (Narcotics) at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), framed a drug-free lifestyle as a “non-negotiable technical requirement” for any aviation professional.
“A drug-free lifestyle is not just a personal choice; it is a professional and safety imperative,” he remarked, emphasizing that the precision required in flight operations leaves no margin for the compromised judgment associated with substance abuse. Through the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, he called on the students to serve as “ambassadors in the skies” by protecting the mental health that fuels their creative genius.
Following a rigorous and competitive Grand Prize contest session on the themes, “The Impact of Social Media on Air Transport Safety” (secondary schools category) and “Ending Luggage Tag Swapping in Drugs Trafficking at Nigerian Airports” (tertiary institutions category), winners emerged as follows.
In the secondary schools category, Oluwafemi Joshua Oluwaseyifunmi of Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja secured first position, receiving ₦120,000 and a complimentary ticket to any domestic destination on the airline’s network sponsored by Arik Air. Patrick Chidiebere David of Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando, Lagos placed second with ₦80,000, while Eloyewan Naomi of Abesan Senior High School, Abesan Estate, Ipaja ranked third with ₦60,000.
For tertiary institutions, Odetayo Omolola Elizabeth of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos claimed first place, earning ₦150,000 and a complimentary ticket to Johannesburg sponsored by South African Airways. Adebakin Temiloluwa Esther of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos finished second with ₦100,000, and Vincent Ikechukwu Maduka of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus placed third with ₦70,000.
A notable addition to the program was the introduction of the Steadfast Spirit Award by Mrs. Peace Jesulayomi Akinsulire (née Lawson), winner of NTEC 2017 and an alumna of the University of Lagos. The ₦30,000 award recognizes sustained participation and resilience among contestants.
Delivering remarks at the presentation, Mrs. Akinsulire addressed participants: “I participated in this competition six (6) times, and four of those were back to back. I didn’t always get first place, but I refused to stop showing up. Every time I wrote, I became better. Every time I tried again, I became stronger. Every time I didn’t win, I grew. That is why I decided to introduce this ₦30,000 Steadfast Spirit Award, to celebrate something powerful: consistency, persistence, and courage. This award is for the student who keeps trying. The one who submits again. The one who improves quietly. The one who refuses to give up. To the recipient, this is your reminder that your effort is seen. Your dedication matters. And your breakthrough may be closer than you think”, she said. Patrick Chidiebere David of Abiolu Comprehensive College, Igando, Lagos, who won the Steadfast Spirit Award prior to the commencement of the main NTEC 2026 inter-school competition, subsequently secured second position in the secondary schools category.
The summit wrapped up with recognition of scholastic achievement, as Sabre presented gift packages to the three highest-placed students in the secondary school category. The event organizers expressed appreciation for the backing gotten from regulatory and industry partners including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA, Caverton Offshore Support Group, Sabre West Africa, South African Airways, Arik Air, SAHCO Plc, and OCP International, whose contributions proved instrumental to the event’s execution. Proceedings concluded with a collective appeal for lifelong learning and bold leadership, as stakeholders renewed their pledge to strengthen Nigeria’s standing in global aviation by investing in the next generation of professionals.
About Travel & Business News:
Travel & Business News is a premier industry publication and the organizer of the National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC) and the Youth Empowerment Summit (YES). For fifteen years, these initiatives have served as a bridge between the classroom and the cockpit, fostering professional growth in the Nigerian aviation sector.
