Azikel Group Exonerates Self From Treating Bayelsa Youths Unfairly.

 

Robert Igali, the  Project Coordinator of  Azikel Group Aviation Training Programme, has exonerated  the group from any wrongdoing stating that  the programme was genuine and meant to support young Bayelsans in pursuit of their  aviation career.

Recall that the programme  is   billed  to take place  in the United States of America and the programme, according to Robert Igali, was a self-prestigious philanthropic initiative  established  by Azikel Group to support Bayelsa youths aspiring to become Pilots for Helicopters, Fixed Wing Aeroplanes and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

But reacting on Tuesday to an online  report accusing  Azikel group of wrongdoing,  Igali stated that  Azikel Aviation training programme was a philanthropic programme without any political affiliation  or financial benefit to the sponsor.

Recall that some persons had  filed a  49 page petition  at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly against the Company but the coordinator of the programme insisted that the plan was to support young Bayelsans who are interested in pursuit of aviation career and to obtain the best training and return to Nigeria.

He commended the President of the Azikel Group, Dr. Eruani Azibabu Godbless  for the initiative.

"Applications were collected from young Bayelsans free of charge and all the  persons who applied were screened  as we were looking for people with science degree and within the ages of 25 to 35.

" You must pass a computer based test after studying the materials which company will provide for  them  and  then will be admitted into the Aviation training programme with commencement as a trainee in the Azikel Aviation Hanger where successful candidate will be mentored, supervised and engaged in character vetting. Then a recommendation from their supervisor  and they will  proceed abroad with  the conviction that candidates will return to Nigeria after the training. During the  training, candidates will be paid N205,200 monthly.

"Two persons eventually were  selected after passing the CBT conducted on the 28th of February 2024. The candidates were immediately included in the  training  in month of March 2024, with a monthly salary with the responsibility of understudying in-house with  engineers and pilots working with Azikel Aviation.

"After 16 months  of training ( March 24 to June of 2025),  the duo failed but for the 16 months duration, they were  paid N205,200 monthly from March of 2024 and till June, 2025 when they resigned from the programme by themselves.

"It should be noted  that Azikel Aviation is not  involved in any  commercial flight (Chatter of Schedule) services for people to assumed that the candidates were working for  Azikel Aviation  and providing commercial benefits.

" Instead of being  patient, the candidates were  complaining and saying that  they want  to travel to the United States. The complains  were established and the candidates were  advised to be dedicated to their in house training adding that a recommendation from their supervisors is a pre-requisite for their training.

 

"On the 26th of March 2025,  the company established and commenced the admission procedure with the training facility in the United States, OSM Aviation Academy and the candidates were informed and involved in the admission procedure.

" While  the company commenced full engagement with the training facility in the United States of America, management received a security report of  the candidates planning to disappear in the United States immediately they arrive.

"That the candidates have started selling their belongings in Nigeria and that immediately they secure the visa, they will not  return to Nigeria. The issue became a concern.

"The Company decide to investigate   the claims.While company commenced a detailed investigation and  established that the candidates were selling off their belonging which should be their tier to  Nigeria.

 "The candidates became aware of the investigation and then commenced a social media blackmail of the company efforts which led to their eventual resignation on June 2025.

" It was also established that the non-recommendation from their supervisor at the Aviation Hanger was also known because of their  poor attitude to the training and this was one of the reasons their supervisor withheld their recommendation."

 Igali also added that when the Azikel group discovered the red flags through repeated warnings,  the candidate resigned from the programme.