L-R: Newcastle CEO, John Nugent and partner, Jimmy Brown, Aviation Minister, Tim Stevens, Head of Safety and the Charge D’Affairs Nigeria Embassy, Mrs. Ibiyemi Ajiboye-Roberts
Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland are to enter into a strategic partnership aimed at developing manpower in the aviation sector.
This was disclosed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing 8th Africa-Ireland Trade Horizon Conference in Dublin by the duo of Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the Chief Executive Officer of Newcastle Aerodrome Aviation School in Dublin, Mr. John Nugent.
Keyamo is currently in Dublin on a working visit where he is participating as one of the special guests at the conference.
The Minister, accompanied by the Charge D’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, Mrs. Ibiyemi Ajiboye-Roberts, undertook a technical visit to Newcastle Aerodrome Aviation School located in Wicklow County, Dublin. The delegation was received by the CEO of the institution, Mr. John Nugent.
During the tour, the Minister inspected the school’s impressive fleet of Viper SD4 trainer aircraft, simulation labs, classrooms, and maintenance hangars.
A statement by Tunde Moshood, special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister noted that the discussions between the Nigerian delegation and the school’s management centred on fostering strategic collaboration between Newcastle Aerodrome and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
Other key areas of proposed partnership include joint development of aviation training curricula tailored to modern global standards, launching of a collaborative pilot licensing programme between Ireland and Nigeria, and development of ancillary skills in aircraft engineering and air traffic control to meet Nigeria’s growing aviation manpower needs.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the warm reception and commended the institution’s track record in aviation training.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to partnerships that will strengthen domestic capabilities and boost the local aviation value chain.
This visit further reflects the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to repositioning Nigeria as a hub for aviation excellence in Africa through innovation, international cooperation, and capacity development.
The annual event convenes leaders from Africa and Ireland to deepen bilateral ties and foster mutually beneficial trade and development partnerships.
In his scheduled address at the conference, the Honourable Minister is expected to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening strategic international alliances in aviation, infrastructure development, and skills advancement, especially in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
