Dr. Eno Umoh, who shares the founding duties of Global Air Drone Academy (GADA)
In the world of drone technology, Eno Umoh stands out as a trailblazer, using his expertise to empower the next generation through education. Born to Nigerian parents and raised in the U.S., Umoh's career spanned media, creative production, and business development before his interest in drones took flight.
In 2015, he co-founded Global Air Media, a drone services company. However, it was during school demonstrations that Umoh recognized the broader educational potential of drones. This revelation led him to establish the nonprofit Global Air Drone Academy (GADA).
GADA is an organization focused on drone education and youth empowerment. The Academy offers a wide range of programs, including drone technology camps for middle and high school students, FAA Part 107 prep courses, startup and innovation challenges, custom programs for underserved schools and global NGOs, and mentorship networks.
Umoh's mission is grounded in making technology access equitable and transformative. He sees drones not just as a media tool but as a platform for STEM innovation, career-building, and global impact. Through GADA, he aims to embed drone education into school systems worldwide with localized curricula and teacher support systems.
The resources provided by GADA are helping to create a new generation of drone entrepreneurs. Umoh envisions GADA supporting policy engagement in the drone industry and is developing hybrid learning platforms for rural communities and urban schools.
GADA's ecosystem includes drone startup incubation, access to open-source mapping tools, hardware training and repair certification, online communities for peer learning, and technical support. This comprehensive approach ensures that students and young adults not only learn the technical aspects of drone operation but also gain the skills necessary to transition from drone trainees to drone service providers in various industries.
Umoh is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the drone industry. He ensures GADA programs serve underrepresented groups, including first-generation learners, young women in STEM, and aspiring entrepreneurs in under-resourced regions.
Through partnerships with the U.S. State Department, USAID, and various embassies, Umoh has led educational exchanges and drone bootcamps in several countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. GADA has reached thousands of students across 20+ countries, both in-person and online.
As GADA continues to grow, it is evolving into a global drone education hub, supporting national drone academies and scalable certification pipelines. Umoh is building a movement, not just a nonprofit, redefining what access to drone technology means. His vision includes the creation of a new generation of drone entrepreneurs in both developed and emerging markets.
In alignment with Umoh's mission, he aims to incorporate drone education into various lifestyle aspects, particularly education-and-self-development, by creating a new generation of drone entrepreneurs through Global Air Drone Academy (GADA). With technology playing a vital role in GADA's approach, Umoh envisions a future where drones are not only tools for innovation but platforms for promoting equality and self-development in STEM and beyond.
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