Mr. Etim Bassey Abang is one the directors in one of the fastest growing aviation and travels companies, A&E Travels & Tours Limited that has been in business for close to two decades and still running. The Oron indigene and a graduate of economics from the Lagos State University. says that it was passion that drove him into aviation that has kept him going.
Mr. Abang is the director of operations at the Akowonjo branch of A&E Travels and Tours Limited which has its head office on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way. Recounting how he got into the aviation industry which has become a blessing to him today, he said the interest began when he was invited to his elder sister’s office when he needed money to meet with some school needs. On getting to her office, she enquired about his plans after graduation and suggested that it would be better for him to join her in the aviation business.
He noted that his academic challenges made him to device a means of coping by adapting his weekends to work in his sister’s office while learning the trade. The basic requirement of attending aviation school was not visible due to his studies so he had to learn practically and later did courses with some of the recognised bodies of the industry such as in international relations from Amadeus.
Mr. Abang has been managing the Akowonjo branch for about six years now and cherishes the experience. He said the industry has given him the opportunity to meet various people in the course of his duties which he sees as fulfillment owing to his desire to serve others. Elaborating on the services of A&E Travels and Tours Limited, he said they include counselling for visa procurement, local and international flight booking, tourism, accommodation reservation worldwide, and ticketing for all airlines with a high rate of success in visa processing.
He owes the success he has achieved thus far and his passion and integrity in serving his clients to God. He believes that integrity in business is the taproot of success. He urges younger ones wishing to join the trend to be sure that they have the passion for the industry which he likens to a service provider and requires the best in service delivery based on integrity. He further emphasises that the major challenge the nation has today in various workplaces is the lack of passion; people pick up jobs because of the income and not for the passion.
He recounted how he had to quit his job with Oceanic Bank after graduation as a result of lack of passion for the banking industry as he acknowledged that he lost interest in economics and made his way back to the aviation industry. He says that he sees others in the same business as colleagues and not worried about their presence as he believes that the sky is very big for everyone to fly and instead of seeing them as his competitors he sees them as partners as he often times make inquiries from the big guns in the industry.
Mr. Abang says he has lost count of those he has helped in training but remembers few of them such as Aduke Travels who he said is a young man like him and also doing very well in the industry. He says that his role model/mentor in the industry remains his elder sister Mrs. Aret Oladotun who doubles as the managing director of A&E Travels.
He added that his beautiful wife Mrs. Jennifer Etim and his son Israel Etim serve as his motivators to aspire to do more. He has his eyes set on having an official airline for A&E Travels &Tours Limited. Currently A&E Travels & Tours Limited operates from Suite 27, Adonai Plaza, Baale Bus Stop in Akowonjo.
