- By Umoh-Obong Kingsley
Recruitment is ongoing at the first state-owned airline in Africa, Ibom Air, for qualified persons with sufficient skills and potentials to face the dynamics in the aviation industry.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Aviation Development, Mr. Akan Okon told newsmen shortly after the arrival of the 3rd aircraft in the fleet of Ibom Air at the Victor Attah International Airport, on Thursday that over 400 direct staff and 4000 indirect staff opportunities are envisaged in the airline.
Mr Okon, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information Charles Udoh and the Ibom Air project consultant Captain Mfon Udom, while taking the journalists on a facility tour of the three aircrafts, said that politics and other biases cannot be considered in the recruitment process.
He said the recruitment processes, ranging from aptitude test to oral interviews, are handled professionally by experts, and that opportunities are being given to qualified applicants without any form of preference, in line with industry best practice.
The Special Duties Commissioner maintained that the airline is structured to be properly and professionally managed in line with the code of conduct in the aviation industry, and that the highest level of professionalism is being followed.
He said that commercial flights operations will commence after the necessary approvals and test operations by relevant regulatory agencies in the industry.
Since the airline is structured in the first instance for operations between Lagos and Abuja routes, it is expected to have standard operational offices at the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja, and these mean more job opportunities.
The Commissioner maintained that the ability of the airline ro break even has already been well planned through a deliberate Masterplan by Governor Udom Emmanuel, noting that what makes the difference in any society is good leadership.
“You know that there may exist the material resources but without a good leader, it would be impossible to manage it.
Hon Akan congratulated Akwa Ibom State for having a leader like Governor Udom Emmanuel who he said, has shown leadership qualities, adding that before the end of his eight years tenure, a lot of significant progress would be recorded in terms of other components of the airport.
The influx of passengers at the airport has been on the increase since the construction of the Ikpe Ikot Nkon-Arochukwu road and the Nto Edino – Ekwerazu road by Governor Emmanuel, which has saved the long hours of passengers in Abia state going through Port Harcourt airport to Lagos.
“Arochukwu to Uyo is only one and a half hours, while the journey to Port Harcourt takes more than three hours, so people there and environs will prefer to pass the Victor Attah International Airport.
Some of the vacant positions, according to the Commissioner, include Cabin Safety Crew, Flight Operations, Aerodromes, Airworthiness, Airport Engineers, Flight Attendants, Aviation Meteorologists, and Airport Administrative Support among others.
Application form is filled and submitted online via www.ibomair.com
He said that the Governor’s investments have resulted in the nearly completed 2nd runway, the newly opened commercial block and the expansion at the temporary terminal building, and added that very soon, a befitting international terminal building will commence in the Airport, as promised by the Governor.
