Abubakar said as a stakeholder in the Nigerian aviation industry, the NAF has always encouraged local talents in science and technology, especially aviation-related innovations.

Our correspondent report that the Air Chief made the commitment when he hosted the four youngsters, all of them SSCE certificate holders, on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The four young talents, Musa Aliyu, Abdulateef Anafi, Abbas Jamiu and Jimoh Ahmed, were flown to Kaduna in a NAF aircraft and taken round the NAF Research and Development Centre, the 401 Flying Training School and 431 Engineering Group.

Represented by the Chief of Standard and Evaluation, AVM Remigius Ekeh, Abubakar said that the aim was to expose them to aircraft engineering, aircraft R&D and operations.

He said that the gesture was part of efforts to reinforce a culture of self-reliance among young Nigerians.

Abubakar added that NAF had on many occasions, identified gifted individuals and facilitated the harnessing of their talents for increased capacity and the betterment of the Nigerian society.

“The NAF therefore invited these talented youths to encourage them and see how best their potentials can be harnessed.

“The intention was to expose the gentlemen to aircraft engineering, aircraft R&D and aircraft operations, for them to have a good conception of how an aircraft is designed, manufactured and operated.”

It was reported that the youngsters interacted with Aerospace Engineers and other Specialists involved in some of the NAF’s R&D efforts.

They were also given briefs on what needs to be studied in order to be maintenance or design engineers for aircraft systems at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT).

At the 401 Flying Training School and 431 Engineering Group, they were shown the basic mechanisms of aircraft flying as well as its components, maintenance and repairs.

Abubakar said the experience and exposure from the tour would guide them in making decisions about their future, adding that the NAF “is willing, able and ready to assist them as may be required.”

Musa Aliyu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were exploring their talents separately, until they met in Ilorin.

“We found ourselves at Ilorin as a team, and we started a remote control aircraft which is RCD aircraft.

“So we decided to build a big one to show the Nigerian Air Force and other higher institutions the talent we have.

“We want to appreciate the Chief of Air Staff for his efforts; it will be a great opportunity for us to achieve our dreams.”

He appealed to the Air force to assist them in furthering their education, so as to improve their talent.

“The talent was given to us by God, we decided to build on it so that everyone can see what we have,” Aliyu added.

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It was reported the accident involved an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus and an articulated DAF trunk carrying container.

An eyewitness account revealed that the accident was due to speeding and dangerous driving as the two vehicles had head-on collision at a bend along the highway.

The source said that while 17 passengers in the bus were killed, two occupants of the articulated vehicle suffered various degrees of injuries.

Mr Udeme Eshiet, the Head of Operations of the Kwara command, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the road mishap.

He explained that the DAF container truck was going towards Jebba, in the Kwara North District, while the passengers’ bus was coming to Ilorin, the state capital, from the Northern Nigeria when the crash occurred.

The FRSC official told NAN that the crash occurred at a sharp bend, as a result of speeding, which led to head-on collision by the two vehicles.

“Due to excess speeding in which the two drivers were involved while driving their vehicles at the time when the crash occurred, they could not negotiate the sharp bend properly, and when they eventually met, it resulted in head on collision,” he said.

He, however, called on motorists to be more careful while driving on the nation’s highways during rainy season to check avoidable accidents.

According to him, passengers should not hesitate to caution or report any reckless driver to law enforcement agents.

He said the remains of the deceased had been taken to a hospital in Ilorin, with the injured victims for treatment.

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