2025 AMT Under 40: Sunday Oluwatosin Sanusi
Sunday Oluwatosin Sanusi is the current head of maintenance at the Central Avionics Overhaul and Calibration Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria.
He also has years of expertise as an aviation mechanic, working on aircraft like the Dornier 228, Beechcraft King Air 350i, Diamond DA40 and DA42, Robinson R66, Agusta 109 and CH-3 UAV.
Sanusi reflects on what brought him to where he is today, sharing, “Growing up in a rural village in Nigeria, I remember looking up at the sky and seeing aircraft contrails, which I mistook for smoke. I used to wonder how a machine could fly when humans couldn’t. That curiosity sparked a burning passion in me to understand how aircraft work. I was fascinated by how something so heavy could soar gracefully through the sky. That early experience ignited my journey into aviation and has remained the foundation of my career.”
Aside from his technical achievements in maintenance and supervisory job duties, Sanusi takes great pride in mentoring student technicians.
Sanusi says, “I aim to build a culture of excellence and confidence among aircraft technicians, where they know more than is expected of them and take deep pride in their work…I also hope to see a more efficient industry where bureaucracy and internal politics do not hinder safety or maintenance integrity.”
Sanusi notes that he’s especially proud of being chosen as one of AMT’s Under 40. He says, “It symbolizes recognition from a community I have long admired. It is an acknowledgment not just of my technical skills but of the journey, sacrifices, and impact I’ve made so far… Today, being considered part of that elite circle feels incredibly fulfilling and humbling.”
To young aviation hopefuls, Sanusi offers seven key lessons that he’s learned in the industry:
Discipline is everything as aviation leaves no room for carelessness.
Cultivate a genuine passion for aircraft and how you work.
Stay curious, open-minded and never stop learning.
Seek out strong training and mentorship early in your career.
Learn from experienced colleagues, ask questions, observe and participate.
Stay humble, your attitude will take you further than talent alone.
Build meaningful relationships. Your reputation and career opportunities will often come through the people you meet on the flight line, hangar floor or workshop.
