A 20-year-old Nigerian, Favour Odozor, has emerged as the
youngest with the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) in both Nigeria and
South Africa.
Mr. Odozor who graduated alongside 15 other trained pilots at the
Afrika Union Aviation Academy (AUAA), Mafikeng, South Africa on Saturday
was described as the new hope of the African aviation industry. Capt.
Allan Roebuck, Director of AUAA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Johannesburg that Mr. Odozor completed all the 37 flying procedures
in record time.
“The academy is proud of this young Nigerian, with the award of
licence and certificate to him. Today, I can say he is the youngest
commercial licence pilot in both Nigeria and South Africa. “I cannot say
now if he is the youngest African to attain that record, but I’m sure
he is the youngest in South Africa and Nigeria.
“It is not enough to
be academically sound to be a good pilot. It requires focus,
punctuality, and discipline to get the commercial licence and
certificate. “It has been a long road for the group of qualified pilots
to obtain their licences. With the award of certificate, they can fly
commercial planes,’’ Mr. Roebuck said. He said the new pilots underwent
two years of rigorous training and 37 flying procedures.
On his part, Mr. Odozor said he had always dreamt of becoming a
pilot. “Flying a plane has been my childhood dream, and I am happy today
that I’m a licensed commercial pilot at the age of 20. “I never
expected myself to be the youngest Nigerian to get the commercial pilot
licence, not to talk about in an advanced country like South Africa. I
was just pursuing my childhood dream of being a pilot. “But I thank God
that I have now made history, as a record licensed commercial pilot in
both Nigeria and South Africa,’’ Mr. Odozor said. He said his immediate
plan was to go for his instrument type and rating courses.
“Aviation training is very wide. This is just the beginning. My
immediate plan is to enrol for my instrument type rating and Boeing 737
training courses,’’ Mr. Odozor said. Mr. Odozor has equalled the record
set by Ed Gardner, a Briton, who obtained his commercial pilot licence
at the age of 20 in 2008. Before heading for South Africa for training,
the Nigerian attended Uchenna Secondary School in Owerri, the Imo State
capital, graduating in 2009.
HBC: Congrats Mr. Odozor...Congrats to us Nigerians.
Am really happy for him, he indeed has a bright nd better future ahead. Congrats.
ReplyDelete