An 18-year-old girl from Enugu State, Favour Francis, has won a scholarship to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at Eastwing Aviation Institute after emerging winner of the 2026 Southeast Aviation Summit/Eastwing Youth Competition (SASEYC 2.0).
Francis clinched the award after competing against young people from different states across the Southeast at the competition’s grand finale, held on Saturday, October 3, at Bon Hotel Platinum, Enugu.
The competition was organised by the Eastwing Youth Foundation and Eastwing Aviation Institute under the theme, “Advancing Youth Potentials Through Aviation Innovation & Excellence.”
The summit brought together young people, aviation professionals, educators, business leaders and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for youth development and professional advancement in aviation and related industries.
Speaking after the competition, the convenor, Christian Agadibe, described the contest as a keenly contested event involving young people from across the region.
“It was a stiff competition among the Southeast youth from different states, and Favour emerged through her confidence, passion and determination,” Agadibe said.
Francis’s victory was among the emotional highlights of the event, as she recounted how she overcame her initial fears and intimidation from other contestants to remain focused on the competition.
Reflecting on her achievement, the 18-year-old said: “I came, I saw, and I conquered.”
Her emergence as the winner also attracted support from guests and dignitaries, some of whom pledged to contribute to her development and the broader youth training initiative.
In a further show of support for the programme, one of the award recipients pledged to sponsor the training of three young people at Eastwing Aviation Institute.
The event attracted dignitaries from various sectors, including the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Dr Ibrahim Bello Bashir; former General Manager of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Dr Emelu Chidi; and Chief Executive Officer of Queen’s Model Schools, Enugu, Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa.
Aviation professionals, public figures and other industry stakeholders also attended the summit.
Activities at the event included keynote and special addresses, youth development awards, partner recognition, the presentation of certificates to participants and the SASEYC 2.0 Aviation Scholarship Award.
SASEYC is designed to expose young people to opportunities in aviation, tourism, hospitality and related sectors while connecting them with industry professionals and practical training opportunities.
The initiative builds on the maiden edition held in 2025, which produced Uyammadu Franklin as its winner. Franklin also received a scholarship to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and is currently pursuing the programme, according to the organisers.
His progress has been cited by the organisers as an example of the opportunities the competition seeks to create for young people interested in pursuing careers in aviation.
The 2026 edition ended with entertainment, networking and recognition of participants, partners and supporters, as the organisers reaffirmed their commitment to creating practical pathways for young people seeking careers in aviation and related industries.
