A 20-year-old Nigerian, Favour Odozor, has emerged as the youngest with the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) in both Nigeria and South Africa.
Described as the new hope of the African aviation industry, Odozor graduated alongside with 15 other trained pilots at the Africa Union Aviation Academy (AUAA), Mafikeng, South Africa on Saturday.
The Director of AUAA, Capt. Allan Roebuck, said Mr Odozor completed all the 37 flying procedures in record time.
In his words, “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.’’
Capt. Roebuck emphasized the essence of lots of hard work, focus, punctuality and discipline to be trained as a commercial pilot.
“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 disclosed that 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,” he said.
“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.’’
By this feat, 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.
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