Lagos First Lady urges women aviation professionals to inspire more female

ANTHONY OMOH

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has called on Women In Aviation (WIA) to continue to do more for women in aviation and other potential female aviation professionals to match with the theme of the conference; Women: Connect, Engage and Inspire the Next Generation.

She said this while speaking at the 2015 annual conference of WIA, Nigeria Chapter in Lagos.

She stated that aviation industry is strategic and that it’s various departments are sophisticated, highly technical and scientific, adding aviation employment is different from any other job because of the specialized skills and expertise required of the personnel to function effectively and efficiently.

Mrs. Ambode, who was represented by Mrs Ogundamola Ogunsanwo, listed such highly specialised areas to include piloting, aircraft maintenance, aero-medicals, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and several others.

She said, “What this means to me is that Nigeria women have registered their impact and established their relevance in the complex field of aeronautic as they have done in the other challenging areas of human endeavour .So, who say the women are not flying?

Ogunsanwo stated that considering these feat, women are matching on and on the right part, adding that women should encourage themselves and also strive harder to achieve more.

“Though your association has been doing an exceedingly good job of promoting public awareness of the accomplishments of women in this unique industry, you must do more in consonance with the theme of the conference ;W:omen: Connect, Engage and inspire the Next Generation.” She said

Stressing that women play important roles in the society and the world at large, the U.S vice consul, Claire Ruffing said “Women have a responsibility to each other, and to our families, communities, and societies, to support one another as we try to make the world a better place.  Armed with facts and with a sense of solidarity, women make some of the most important contributions to societies generally, and particularly in developing countries”.

She stressed that the President Obama’s administration is committed to matters concerning women and girls and is working to combat discrimination, eliminate violence against women and girls at home and abroad, expand access to women’s health care, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, support women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, and encourage women’s economic and political leadership.

“From creating the White House Council on Women and Girls, the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and an Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues, to appointing two women to the Supreme Court and a strong team of women leaders to his Cabinet and White House staff, President Obama has taken concrete steps to ensure that women of diverse backgrounds are involved in shaping policy at every level of our government and that their voices are heard throughout American society and all around the world”

On her part, the President of WIA, Nigeria Chapter, Rejoice Ndudinachi, stated that women in the association were in tune with trends in the aviation industry and are committed to sustaining contributions to the sector’s development.

She said that as an association it reaches out to schools to sensitise students about career opportunities in aviation, thereby empowering them for better career choices.

She said, ”We believe in catch them young and we have contributed immensely to the advancement of our very dynamic industry and the society in general .We have organised series of programmes to help the young ones ,most recently ,the Nigerian Girls in Aviation Day.”

The WIA President stated that one of the objectives of women in aviation Nigeria is to encourage the young ones to build up their future in aviation, promising that the body would pursue this objective very vigorously.