Nigeria’s aviation growth tied to greater inclusion of women – Obiano

The Chief Executive Officer of Furalle Limited, Stephanie Obiano, has said Nigeria will struggle to fully realise its aviation potential if women continue to be underrepresented in key areas of the industry.

She emphasised that women need to move beyond basic participation and take up leadership roles in critical sectors such as safety management, regulatory agencies, airline operations, airport administration, and technical engineering.

Obiano noted that women contribute valuable qualities, including transformational leadership, operational discipline, risk awareness, and long-term strategic thinking, attributes she described as essential for the advancement of Nigeria’s aviation sector.

Speaking on Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements (ASAs), she explained that while such agreements create opportunities, they do not automatically result in economic benefits without strong local capacity.

“Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements with multiple countries offer significant opportunities, but agreements alone do not generate economic value, capacity does,” she said. “If we lack skilled personnel to operate and manage aviation infrastructure, foreign operators will dominate the industry. Our goal is to ensure Nigerians benefit from that value chain.”

She said her move into aviation education was motivated by Nigeria’s continued dependence on foreign expertise in technical areas, describing the situation as unsustainable.

Despite the country’s vast aviation potential, Obiano stressed the need to develop local talent at scale. She explained that FurAlle Aviation College was established to build indigenous manpower, noting that aviation plays a strategic role beyond transportation, impacting trade, tourism, security, and national economic strength.

“If Nigeria aims to become a one-trillion-dollar economy, we must invest in building local technical capacity,” she added.

Addressing her experience in a male-dominated industry, Obiano said competence has been her greatest asset.

“In aviation, credibility is everything. I focus on delivering results, building systems, and solving problems. Consistent performance earns respect over time,” she said.

She also highlighted the importance of collaboration, noting that success in aviation depends on effective engagement with regulators, operators, financiers, and other stakeholders.

Describing aviation as a broad and skill-driven sector, Obiano dismissed the perception that it is limited to pilots or the wealthy.

“Aviation covers engineering, safety management, logistics, airport operations, air traffic services, maintenance, cargo handling, regulatory compliance, and security. It is driven by skills, not status,” she explained.

On the guiding principles of her institution, she listed safety, technical excellence, integrity, regulatory compliance, discipline, and professionalism as core values, adding that the goal is to produce industry-ready professionals rather than just certificate holders.

She further stated that the college aligns its training with the standards of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and global best practices, with strong emphasis on safety management systems, human factors, and risk assessment.

“Safety culture is embedded in everything we do,” she said, adding that modern aviation training must incorporate digital simulation, artificial intelligence, compliance analytics, and global certification pathways.

Obiano maintained that developing local capacity will determine whether Nigeria can fully benefit from its growing aviation sector and international agreements.

Reflecting on her career, she identified underestimation as a key challenge but said she overcame it through deep knowledge of policy, regulation, operations, and international frameworks.

“Knowledge reduces bias and competence breaks stereotypes,” she noted.

She encouraged young women to pursue technical knowledge, build confidence, seek mentorship, and remain resilient.

“Aviation is not a quick-win industry, it requires precision and dedication,” she said. “There is space for women across all areas of aviation, from the cockpit to the control tower, boardroom, and engineering units. The future of Nigeria’s aviation industry will be shaped by those who are prepared.”