Eighteen ex-militants who are on amnesty training programme have graduated as private pilots at the African Union Aviation Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, according to a report monitored on Channels Television on Sunday.
The report said that the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who was at the presentation of certificates to the students, reaffirmed the commitment of the government to empower the ex-militants to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the nation.
Kuku revealed that the 26,358 persons who embraced the Federal Government’s amnesty programme will be trained in various fields before the end of 2013.
The graduation ceremony involved a demonstration of skill and competence by the student pilots who received their private pilot’s licence at the event while others were decorated for flying aircrafts unaccompanied by their instructors.
Kuku, who was flown by one of the student pilots at the Grand Central Airport in Midrand, also revealed plans by the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria dominated the aviation industry soon.
Kuku told the students that government will support them to secure their commercial pilot’s licence.
The 18 students, who obtained their private pilot’s licence, were presented with their licences while others who have attained the status of flying solo were decorated.
Fifty students under the amnesty programme are being trained as pilots in South Africa.
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