Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) has entered into a strategic partnership with Eastwing Aviation Institute and the Eastwing Youth Foundation to provide over 525 European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-compliant aviation training programmes aimed at boosting aviation capacity in Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to equip students, instructors, and aviation professionals with internationally recognised technical skills and regulatory training, while addressing the growing demand for high-level aviation education across Africa.
The partnership followed the success of the Southeast Aviation Summit and Eastwing Youth Competition, formerly known as the Face of Eastwing Competition, which highlighted the urgent need for stronger investment in aviation education and professional development on the continent.
Under the collaboration, the Eastwing Aviation Institute (EAI) will work with Sofema Aviation Services and Sofema Online (SOL) to deliver a wide range of specialised online courses covering key sectors of the aviation industry.
The programmes are structured to meet EASA standards and include training in Safety Management Systems (SMS), Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO), Aviation Quality Assurance, Maintenance Planning and Compliance, as well as Leadership and Management in Aviation.
The Eastwing Youth Foundation said the goal of the agreement is to close the competency gap and ensure that young Nigerian aviation professionals acquire globally competitive skills required to thrive in the international aviation industry.
Chief Executive Officer of Sofema Aviation Services, Steve Bentley, described the partnership as a major investment in the future of African aviation safety and professionalism.
“At Sofema, our mission has always been to democratize access to world-class regulatory training. By partnering with the Eastwing Youth Foundation, we are not just providing course materials; we are empowering the next generation of African aviation leaders with the tools to excel within an EASA-compliant environment,” he said.
Bentley also announced a €10,000 training bursary to support the programme and reduce financial barriers for participants.
“We are proud to support this initiative with a €10,000 training bursary, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of professional excellence and industry safety,” he added.
Since its establishment in 2008, Sofema Aviation Services has grown into one of the leading global aviation training providers, partnering with over 3,500 aviation organisations worldwide, issuing more than 700,000 certificates of completion, and developing a library of over 400 technical and regulatory courses.
Founder of the Eastwing Youth Foundation, Dr. Edeh Christopher, described the collaboration as a transformative milestone for Nigerian aviation training and youth empowerment.
He said the initiative was deliberately created to bridge the gap between local aviation training standards and the strict requirements of the global aviation industry.
According to him, the programme will help create a sustainable pipeline of highly skilled aviation professionals and position Nigeria for stronger competitiveness in the international aviation market.
