International Aviation College Ilorin Soon to Be Self-Sustaining- Gov. Abdul Rahman Abdulrasaq
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L-R: Kwara State Gov. Abdul Rahman Abdulrasaq, decorating Miss Otobo Praise, Capt Yakubu Okatahi, Acting Rector, IAC, assisting the Gov. in decorating one of the five holders of Commercial and Private Pilot License, PPL
The International Aviation College, IAC, Ilorin, is still being strategically propped by the state government with the view to making it self-sustaining before the expiration of the second term tenure of Mall. Abdul Rahman Abdulrasaq, as Kwara State Governor.
Gov. Abdul Rahman Abdulrasaq explained that the current subvention to the college was to task the college authority in prudent financial management that would ultimately engender the college to become self-sustaining in its assigned tasks and funding.
Abdulrasaq declared thus, “With effective management, I believe the Aviation College can attain autonomy and self-sufficiency in terms of funding”.
He further revealed his government’s policy approach and the ultimate goal for the young aviation training institution, “Our aim for the school is to achieve this, instead of relying on subvention from the government,” the Governor said.
, These revelations were made at the college premises where the Governor was the Special Guest at the decoration of five graduating students awarded commercial pilot licenses.
The Governor who also is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), warned the new management of the college, who had barely spent 15 months piloting the affairs of the college, to avoid a repeat of the mismanagement that characterized the previous management, which drew back the progress of the institution.
The Acting Rector, Capt. Yakubu Okatahi, on behalf of the college management, expressed gratitude to the Governor for providing the subvention as and when due, which had helped in maintaining the college status quo.
Okatahi, however, told the Governor that the management was desirous of stepping up the entire infrastructure of the college hence, more funding became imperative so as to make the college more competitive, able to sustain the existing personnel and attract first-class faculty members and equipment.
He added that a few other open items identified by the regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, needed to be closed in record time, and funding becomes a sine qua non to close those items thus enabling the college to continue to soar and cruise at a higher, and safer altitude.
The Rector specifically expressed appreciation for the N75 million special grant extended to the college by the Governor. He enumerated projects achieved with the grant including the purchase of a new aircraft engine, and propeller, the purchase of 10,000 liters of aviation fuel, (jet-A1), and the repair of the College’s fuel dump, among others.
Succinctly put, the Rector appealed to the governor for an increase in the volume of subvention to the college to enable it to meet all the requirements stipulated by the regulatory authority.
The Registrar of the College, Mr. Mohammed Jimada Jibril, used the occasion to congratulate the governor on his re-election for the second term and also, as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
He pleaded with the Governor for the upward review of the College’s monthly subvention to enable the College to implement a competitive salary structure for its staff as obtained in sister institutions like NCAT, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Governor, who decorated the graduating students urged the College to put all its requests in writing to his office for necessary action.
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