International Aviation College Ilorin, Kwara State, has stated that it has trained no fewer than 250 pilots since the establishment of the college, attributing its recent achievements to the support of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The Rector of the College, Captain Yakubu Okatahi, disclosed this in Ilorin on Tuesday while speaking at a press briefing.

The Rector stated that the college, which was once struggling to remain operational, had witnessed remarkable improvements following the intervention of Governor AbdulRazaq.

"Sometimes ago, this school was like non-existent, and the Governor in his wisdom decided to change the management.

"The present management was invited to come and take the leadership and it was like we met nothing. But, God in His infinite mercy, assisted us and with the little we had, we picked up.

"Our sincere thanks goes to His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who has stood firmly behind us," he said.

According to him, the governor provided funds for the overhaul of aircraft engines and propellers, as well as regular subventions for the payment of staff salaries.

Captain Okatahi stated that the college's primary mandate was to train pilots and flight dispatchers, as over 50 pilots had graduated under the current management, many of whom are now employed by various airlines and performing creditably.

He noted that the institution recently recorded a 96 per cent score during an audit conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), describing the outcome as a testament to the quality of training being offered.

"The college is currently concluding the training of another batch of students undergoing final assessments by check airmen to determine their readiness for pilot certification.

"Kwara's favourable weather conditions have made the state an attractive destination for aviation training, compared to some parts of northern and southern Nigeria where adverse weather often disrupts flight training," Captain Okatahi explained.

The Rector added that the institution has deliberately maintained affordable tuition fees to enable more Nigerians to access aviation training.

The aviation expert commended the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration for the sponsorship of several students and funding of advanced training programmes for instructors, pilots and engineers both within and outside Nigeria.

Captain Okatahi disclosed that three instructors trained by the college were later sponsored by the state government for further training in South Africa and had since returned to train new students.

The Rector also stated that the government sponsored the training of two aircraft engineers in Austria, while other engineers were undergoing refresher courses to improve their professional competence.

The Rector, however, appealed to the state government to provide funds for the acquisition of at least one additional aircraft to enhance training capacity and ensure timely graduation of students.

He noted that the college had trained personnel for the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army, contributing significantly to the development of indigenous aviation manpower.

Captain Okatahi stressed the need for continued investment in aviation training to reduce dependence on expatriates and strengthen Nigeria's aviation industry.