The South African Consulate General, led by Dr. Bobby Moroe, has thrown its weight behind the launch of the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Exchange Program. The initiative, unveiled at a landmark meeting in Lagos, aims to boost capacity, bridge the aviation skills gap, and foster collaboration between the two nations and beyond.
The exchange program is the flagship initiative under the newly established Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum, founded by aviation advocate Toni Ukachukwu. Execution is being handled by the Aviators Management Academy with support from Walk for Love Africa, a pan-African NGO dedicated to capacity building and socioeconomic empowerment in the travel and tourism industry.
Designed to nurture the next generation of African aviators, the pilot phase of the program will offer selected young professionals a hybrid training experience—beginning with an intensive online module and culminating in a seven-week, in-person course at the Academy of Aviation in South Africa. Graduates will earn a South African cabin crew license, and upon returning to Nigeria, will complete the requirements for local licensing giving them dual certification and expanded career prospects.
“This program is about more than training cabin crew it’s about unlocking Africa’s aviation potential by investing in its people,” said Ukachukwu. “There’s a growing skills gap in aviation across the continent, and this initiative is a direct response to that. We’re building bridges, breaking barriers, and preparing the next generation of African aviators.”
Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Exchange Program
The initiative also embraces a digital-first model, with virtual training and assessments designed to overcome infrastructural and geographic challenges. “This deliberate use of technology reflects a commitment to leapfrog traditional barriers and promote digital transformation within the sector,” said Chinedu Engele, the program’s tech consultant.
Developed in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authorities of both Nigeria and South Africa, the exchange program is part of a broader effort to promote inter-African cooperation, mobility, and tourism by addressing a critical shortage of aviation professionals.
To ensure long-term sustainability, Walk for Love Africa is establishing a Capital Fund to offer seed grants and scholarships to aspiring aviation professionals. According to global forecasts, Africa will need over 20,000 new pilots, technicians, and cabin crew members within the next decade—a demand the program hopes to help meet.
Discussions are also underway between the Nigeria-South Africa Aviation Forum and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) to develop a pan-African Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The proposed agreement would create a framework enabling graduates of the program to work across airlines on the continent, driving greater workforce integration and collaboration in Africa’s aviation industry.