The Young Aerospace Professionals Initiative (YAPI) has encouraged young Nigerian girls to explore career opportunities in aviation, stressing that the sector offers far more pathways than becoming a pilot.
The organisation made the call during its AeroGirls Programme held at Prudence City College in Yaba, Lagos, where about 50 girls participated in sessions designed to expose them to different careers in aviation and aerospace. The programme was supported by AnCore ARSP, Aura Assurance and the Verb Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Club.
Speaking at the event, YAPI Founder and Executive Director, Annie Ojewunmi, said the initiative was created to give girls greater visibility into a sector where many young people may not be aware of the range of opportunities available.
Ojewunmi said the programme was intended to help participants understand that aviation careers extend beyond piloting to roles such as aircraft maintenance engineering, aeronautical engineering, flight dispatch, aviation management and other technical and leadership positions.
She added that exposure is important in helping young girls imagine themselves in industries where they may have had limited representation or access to role models.
During the programme, participants received guidance on career pathways, including the academic subjects and qualifications required for different aviation professions.
The event also featured a session with Oluwarantimi Bukola, who shared her experience of moving from a background in Mechatronics Engineering into aviation with the support of mentorship through YAPI.
The Principal of Prudence City College, Akinwoye Sunday, said the programme gave students practical exposure to aerospace, technology and innovation, while helping them better understand the range of opportunities available in the sector.
One of the participating students, identified as Bolaji, said the programme changed her understanding of aviation careers and strengthened her interest in becoming an aeronautical engineer.
The initiative comes amid broader efforts to increase the participation of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related careers, particularly in specialised sectors such as aviation where female representation remains limited.
By introducing students to industry professionals and providing early career guidance, programmes such as AeroGirls can help expand the pipeline of young women considering technical and leadership roles in aviation.
For YAPI, the broader objective is to ensure that girls are not excluded from aviation because of limited exposure, stereotypes or a lack of information about available career pathways.
The organisation said it would continue to use mentorship and career education to help young people see themselves as future engineers, aviation professionals and leaders in the sector.
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