NCAT MANAGEMENT RETREAT,
9TH – 13TH OF FEBRUARY, 2026
Welcome address by the Rector/Chief Executive at the Opening of the Annual Management Retreat on 9th February, 2026.
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you all to this year’s Annual Management Retreat of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria. This gathering is not just a tradition; it is a strategic necessity—an opportunity for us to pause, reflect, evaluate, and chart a renewed course for the College as we continue to fulfil our mandate as the premier aviation training institution in Africa.
Over the years, NCAT has earned a reputation for excellence, resilience, and innovation. Yet, the aviation industry continues to evolve at a pace that demands even greater agility, foresight, and collaboration. The challenges before us—technological advancements, regulatory shifts, global competition, and the need for sustainable growth—require that we consistently sharpen our strategies and strengthen our internal systems.
This retreat provides us with the platform to do exactly that.
Our theme for this year, “adoption of AI and other emerging issues”, is both timely and relevant. It calls on us to examine our operational frameworks, reassess our priorities, and recommit ourselves to the values that define NCAT: professionalism, integrity, safety, and service excellence.
As leaders and custodians of this institution, we must approach this retreat with open minds and a shared determination to improve. I encourage us to engage honestly, think boldly, and collaborate constructively. Let us challenge old assumptions, embrace new ideas, and design actionable strategies that will enhance our training capacity, improve service delivery, and strengthen our financial sustainability.
We must also remember that our greatest asset is our competent manpower and facilities. Therefore, discussions around staff development, welfare, and performance must remain central. A motivated workforce is the engine that drives institutional success. Acquisition of modern training equipment and infrastructure is very vital. We should remember, we are in competitive market from local and abroad ATOs. NCAT should manage near monopoly being enjoyed. The College should be proactive with foresight to meet the training need of the industry (RPAS/drone).
I am confident that with the caliber of minds gathered here today, we will emerge from this retreat with renewed clarity, strengthened unity, and a strategic roadmap that positions NCAT for greater achievements in the coming year.
Let us commit ourselves to making this retreat productive, impactful, and transformative.
On this note, I formally declare the NCAT Annual Management Retreat open.
Thank you, and I wish us all fruitful deliberations.
