Business
ICAO, Singapore Partner On Young Professionals Training
International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), said it had signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Singapore, to provide 40 scholarships and 600 fellowships to young aviation professionals.
A statement by ICAO on Tuesday, said that ICAO Council’s President, Dr. Benard Aliu, formalised the new five-year, six million dollar programme at the ongoing Aviation Leadership Summit in Singapore on Monday.
Aliu said that ICAO was grateful to Singapore for its leadership on human resources development, particularly through the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA).
He said that global air transport sustainability would be critically tied to the ability of aviation sector to assure sufficient numbers of skilled aviation personnel offset forecast growth and attrition impacts in the years to come.
Aliu said it would be difficult to achieve safest and efficient air transport network in the world without enough skilled managers and leaders to operate and regulate it sustainably for future generations.
“It is my great honour to be formalising this new joint ICAO-Singapore programme during the 60th Anniversary of this highly-regarded and very critical training resource for aviation professionals.
“It would be a shame to work so hard together toward the achievement and management of the safest and most efficient air transport network without enough skilled managers and leaders to operate and regulate it sustainably for future generations.
“Through collective efforts of ICAO, member states and industry, in 2017, set a record for aviation safety even as air transport carried a record 4.1 billion passengers on 37 million flights.
“The responsibility to ensure that air transport continues to drive sustainable socio-economic benefits rests squarely on the shoulders of the stakeholders.
“As our system and its aircraft continue to modernize, becoming greener and more supportive of global climate priorities as they do, we must also do more to ensure our network’s sustainability from all relevant standpoints,” he said.
ICAO’s President said that aviation’s workforce was contracting due to the inevitable demographics of aging populations, lowering birth rates and other attrition factors.
He added that these challenges to workforce planning were further aggravated by the increasing number of high-tech careers in other industry sectors which competed with aviation for up-and-coming talents.
According to him, ICAO has recently updated its forecasts for three key air transport professions; namely, pilots, air traffic controllers and aircraft technicians.
“Our preliminary numbers have revealed that no fewer than 620,000 pilots will be needed by 2036, to fly the world’s 100-seat-and-larger aircraft.
“But even more important than this figure is the fact that no less than 80 per cent of these future aviators will be new pilots, who are not yet flying today.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
-
Opinion3 days ago
Ozoro Festival: Tradition or Tyranny?
-
News4 days agoRSG Reiterates Commitment To Youth Dev
-
Rivers12 hours agoCourt Rules Out Interim Administration In Jumbo House, Bonny
-
Politics13 hours agoAPC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide
-
Oil & Energy3 days agoTranscorp Energy, Renewvia Partner On Renewable Energy Gap
-
Politics3 days ago
RIVERS WOMEN RALLY SUPPORT, CONTINUOUS PRAYERS FOR TINUBU
-
Politics3 days ago
AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR
-
Business3 days agoNSCDC Discloses Illegal Dump Site In Ikwerre Community