Reps move to establish Aviation University in Abuja

…Cite Urgent Need to Bridge Manpower Gap

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives and stakeholders successful Nigeria’s aviation assemblage person endorsed a projected authorities to found the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) successful Abuja, describing it arsenic a landmark inaugural to code the manpower shortage successful the aviation and aerospace manufacture crossed Africa.

The endorsement followed a nationalist proceeding organized by the House Committee connected Aviation Technology connected Wednesday, wherever experts from government, academia, and the backstage assemblage highlighted the university’s imaginable to alteration Nigeria into a continental hub for aviation research, innovation, and training.

Representing the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, said the instauration of AAAU aligns with the ministry’s semipermanent imaginativeness to presumption Nigeria arsenic a planetary aviation grooming center.

“The African Aviation and Aerospace University represents much than an acquisition institution—it is the aboriginal of aviation manpower improvement connected the continent,” Dr. Abubakar said, commending the National Assembly for its foresight successful institutionalizing the project.

Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, disclosed that the Federal Government had allocated 200 hectares on Bill Clinton Drive, Abuja, arsenic the university’s imperishable site, with respective structures already completed and relocation underway. He stressed that passing the Bill would fortify the university’s credentials, pull planetary partnerships, and guarantee sustainable funding.

“It volition besides assistance Nigeria execute its imaginativeness of becoming Africa’s starring aviation grooming and innovation hub,” Aji stated.

The university’s Registrar, Dr. Mustapha Sheikh Abdullahi, said AAAU had secured approvals from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). It presently runs 7 accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with the archetypal postgraduate students acceptable to postgraduate this year.

He noted that AAAU had trained implicit 300 unit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) done enforcement capacity-building programmes.

“Our enactment for this Bill is total. It volition alteration america to grow our reach, pull planetary collaborations, and conscionable Africa’s aviation manpower needs,” Abdullahi said.

Capt. Danjuma Ismail, Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), described AAAU arsenic complementary to NCAT’s work, noting that portion NCAT provides method and aviator training, AAAU volition absorption connected precocious world probe and innovation.

“Many aviation professionals deficiency entree to postgraduate qualifications. The caller assemblage volition supply that pathway,” helium said, urging lawmakers to fast-track the Bill’s passage.

Supporting the proposal, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, highlighted the strategical value of AAAU successful strengthening nationalist information and advancing Nigeria’s enactment successful aerospace technology. Citing ICAO and Boeing’s 2024 forecast, helium noted that Africa volition necessitate implicit 70,000 caller aviation professionals betwixt 2025 and 2044, including 23,000 pilots and 24,000 technicians.

“The constitution of AAAU is not conscionable desirable—it is imperative. However, it indispensable instill discipline, safety, and professionalism to nutrient globally competitory graduates,” helium said.

Opening the hearing, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described the inaugural arsenic transformative for Nigeria’s aviation landscape.

“This assemblage volition equip Nigerians with precocious skills, trim overseas dependence, and promote probe that drives innovation and safety. It positions Nigeria arsenic Africa’s aviation and aerospace hub,” helium said.

Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun, Chairman of the House Committee connected Aviation Technology, called the Bill a “historic opportunity” for Nigeria to pb Africa successful aviation acquisition and research.

“This assemblage is not conscionable for Nigeria; it is for Africa. It’s a bold connection that we are acceptable to lead, innovate, and amended astatine the highest levels,” Abisodun declared.

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