Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 13, 2026
AN 18-year-old indigene of Enugu State, Favour Felix Chinecherem, has emerged winner of the 2026 Southeast Aviation Summit/Eastwing Youth Competition (SASEYC 2.0), earning a scholarship to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering at Eastwing Aviation Institute.
Chinecherem clinched the scholarship after an intense competition involving more than 50 young people from different states across the South-East. The grand finale took place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Bon Hotel Platinum, Enugu. <escape></escape>
The achievement marks a significant milestone for the young Enugu-born aviation enthusiast, whose ambition to build a career in the aviation industry reportedly began when she was just 10 years old.
Speaking after her victory, Chinecherem revealed that she initially felt intimidated by some of the contestants but remained determined to overcome her fears and pursue her dream.
“I came, I saw, and I conquered,” she declared, encouraging other young people not to abandon their aspirations because of challenges or self-doubt.
SASEYC 2.0: Creating Opportunities for Young People
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 career opportunities and pathways into the aviation industry.
Convener of the initiative, Christian Agadibe, described the competition as a keenly contested event, noting that Chinecherem distinguished herself through confidence, passion and determination.
The Chief Executive Officer of Eastwing Aviation Institute, Dr. Christopher Edeh, also emphasised the importance of exposing young people to aviation careers early enough to help them make informed decisions about their professional futures.
Participants were encouraged to look beyond piloting and explore other specialised career paths, including aircraft maintenance engineering, aviation management, cabin crew services, air traffic services, aviation safety, passenger services and aviation security.
A Scholarship Beyond the Runway
Chinecherem’s victory highlights the importance of providing young people with access to professional training, mentorship and opportunities to transform their ambitions into practical career pathways.
Aircraft maintenance engineering plays a vital role in aviation safety, requiring technical competence, discipline, attention to detail and strict adherence to established professional standards.
The SASEYC initiative builds on its maiden edition in 2025, which produced Uyammadu Ifechukwu Franklin as its winner. Franklin received a scholarship to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and has since progressed to the industrial training stage of his programme in Abuja, according to reports on the initiative. <escape></escape>
Chinecherem’s emergence as the second-edition winner further highlights the potential of youth-focused initiatives to connect talent with specialised education and professional opportunities.
Celebrating Enugu’s Emerging Talent
For Enugu State, the achievement offers an opportunity to celebrate a young person pursuing a specialised career in a technically demanding industry. It also underscores the need for sustained investment in youth development, career guidance, technical education and skills acquisition.
As Chinecherem begins the next phase of her aviation journey, her story serves as encouragement to young people across Enugu State and the South-East to remain focused on their ambitions, embrace learning opportunities and persevere through challenges.
Her success demonstrates how determination, exposure and access to the right opportunities can help young people take meaningful steps towards their dreams.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform, celebrates emerging talents and continues to promote stories that inspire youth development, educational advancement, innovation and opportunities across Enugu State and beyond.
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