A 19-year-old student, Franklin Uyammadu from Anambra, has emerged as the winner of the Face of Eastwing Competition, organised by the Eastwing Aviation Institute, Enugu.

He was declared the winner during the competition’s grand finale, organised through its youth foundation on Monday in Enugu.

The victory earned him a four-month Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme training with a reputable aviation company.

The teenager won the 2025 edition of the competition after defeating 50 other youths at the inaugural South-East Aviation Summit and Eastwing Youth Competition (SASEYC).

The victory then earned him a full scholarship from the Eastwing Aviation Institute to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME).

Christian Agadibe, the executive director of Eastwing Youth Foundation and Convener of SASEYC, said the teenager’s progress demonstrated the practical impact of the scholarship programme.

Mr Agadibe said the institute had funded Uyammadu’s training through the AME programme, while efforts were underway to secure sponsorship for other finalists. According to him, the teenager’s progress shows the youth-focused initiative is achieving its objective of expanding access to aviation training for young people who may otherwise struggle to afford it.

He said the ongoing second edition of the competition has also produced another group of young people who will require support beyond the competition.

Mr Agadibe also said the 2026 edition of SASEYC was progressing, with the current top 10 finalists undergoing further training ahead of the summit scheduled for October 3 in Enugu. He expressed confidence that another winner would emerge at the summit.

(NAN)