18-Year-Old Mohammed Sani Becomes Nigeria’s Youngest Commercial Pilot
Nigeria has produced one of its youngest commercial pilots as 18-year-old Mohammed Aminu Sani earned a United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Multi-Engine Pilot Licence from Phoenix East Aviation (PEA) in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Sani completed the rigorous 10-month programme without a single checkride failure — a rare achievement even among experienced trainees — demonstrating discipline, resilience and focus.
“Becoming a pilot has always been my childhood dream, and today I am proud to say I’m living that dream and enjoying every step of the journey. It’s been an incredible experience filled with hard work, discipline and passion. I hope my story inspires others to chase their dreams with determination and never give up on what they believe,” he said.
Born and raised in Abuja, Sani attended Al-Hidaayah Academy and The Regent College, Abuja, where he graduated with Distinction in Economics Foundation before travelling to the United States for flight training.
At Phoenix East Aviation, one of the world’s top FAA Part 141 schools, he trained in various conditions, including night flights, cross-country missions, and instrument navigation through rain and low visibility. He logged over 50 hours on multi-engine aircraft such as the PA-34-200 Seneca and more than 30 hours of cross-country flight time.
Now holding an FAA Commercial Pilot Licence (AMEL), Sani represents a new generation of Nigerians breaking barriers through education and excellence.
He hopes to join a leading airline and continue flying while representing Nigeria proudly among the world’s elite aviators.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
