Air Peace votes N300m to train students

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Barr. Allen Onyema has earmarked over N300 million to train 52 executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in non-violence education in Nigeria, and at Emory University in the United States.

Onyema stated this when the Grand Patron of NANS in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Ubong King and leaders of the students’ body visited the firm’s headquarters in Lagos.

The airline, he added, would also henceforth fly leaders of NANS and all other categories of students to school on resumption and out of school on vacation for a flat fare of N18,000.

He urged NANS executive to be serious about the opportunity offered by the airline on the training. Onyema said the trainees are expected to return home as non-violence experts to support the campaign for peace which his not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN) had championed for many years.

“I like being in the midst of youth who are detribalised in their struggles. Let no one use you to foment trouble. In 2004 when there was militancy that greatly affected oil production in the country, I used FEHN to fight the crisis and a lot of the militants were transformed.

“What gives me joy is broad nationalism and not ethnic and divisive nationalism. What we need in Nigeria is broad nationalism,” Onyema said.

Earlier, NANS Senate President, Comrade Salam Oyejide praised the airline for distinguishing itself with topnotch flight services, adding that Air Peace has been endorsed as the official airline of Nigerian students.