Mentorship took centre stage at the 9th Explore Aviation Careers Conference as convener Joy Ogbebo encouraged students to embrace guidance as the foundation of a successful aviation career. She described mentorship as a bridge between experience and aspiration and urged young people to recognise how it shapes competence and character in a demanding industry.
The event, themed “Inspiring the Next Generation of Skilled Aviation Professionals: The Role of Mentoring,” welcomed students from Murtala Mohammed International School, District College Meiran, Universal School of Aviation Students, and Aeroport College of Aviation and Travel Management.
“Aviation has always been more than technology and aircraft; it is about people,” Ogbebo said. She explained that mentoring helps young professionals learn directly from those who understand the realities of safety, discipline, and teamwork. She added that knowledge must pass from veterans to emerging talent to sustain industry standards. Ogbebo stressed that mentoring gives students confidence and direction while giving mentors the chance to strengthen the future of the industry.
“As we look to the future, let us commit to a culture where every professional becomes a mentor,” she added. She encouraged students to ask questions, observe closely, and remain open to continuous improvement. She said mentorship lifts one generation through the wisdom of another and ensures aviation excellence endures across time.
Former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nnamdi Udo, also shared his career journey to highlight how mentorship shaped his growth. He said his early fascination with aviation came from watching professionals who demonstrated excellence, discipline, and courage. He encouraged students to identify mentors who inspire them and to learn consistently from their examples. According to him, mentorship helps students understand the aviation chain and the value each role contributes to safety.
“Whoever impresses you, draw the arrow to them. Learn from their example,” Udo said. He reminded students that aviation careers depend on teamwork between pilots, controllers, engineers, dispatchers, and cabin crew. He emphasised discipline, hard work, and readiness to learn as non-negotiable traits. Udo described how he walked to Enugu Airport for an interview and how mentorship helped him rise in a competitive field.
“You must follow your teachers with commitment. Everything you learn is valuable,” he said. Udo added that technical knowledge is important but character matters more. He urged students to understand that mentorship improves judgement and shapes the decisions that protect lives in aviation. He also explained that cabin crew must show compassion, pilots must remain focused, and engineers must show deep technical understanding. He said each role depends on the other, and mentorship prepares students for this level of responsibility.
Keynote speaker Kate Nnanna-Ibemgbo, Deputy General Manager, ATM/State Safety Programme at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, reinforced the importance of mentorship in aviation. She told students to take every opportunity at the conference seriously and to approach mentors with purpose and curiosity. She described mentorship as a reciprocal relationship in which the mentee gains clarity and the mentor gains fulfilment.
“You are at the right place and at the right time. Make sure you grab everything with both hands,” she said. She explained that mentorship helps students understand their field, build leadership qualities, and grow professionally. She added that success requires hunger for knowledge, commitment to learning, and readiness to serve.
“To be a good mentee, you must be willing to learn,” she said. She urged students to conduct research, understand their interests, and seek experts who can guide them. She described mentorship as a bridge between today’s lessons and tomorrow’s possibilities and said wise professionals plant seeds that grow into future leaders.
The conference reinforced that mentorship is essential for shaping Nigeria’s next generation of aviation professionals. Speakers highlighted that mentorship prepares students for technical demands, sharpens their judgement, builds resilience, and opens access to real career opportunities. The message was clear: mentorship strengthens learning, guides decision-making, and ensures that every future professional enters the industry with confidence and clarity.
