The International Civil Aviation Organisation projects that over 65,000 new African aviation professionals will be needed by the year 2040. However, the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM) is poised to bridge that gap.
Speaking at a press conference unveiling the University in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Aviation, Barr. Festus Keyamo noted that Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management was Africa’s first privately owned university dedicated to aeronautics and management.
“This is one of the visions of this government, the government of President Bola Tinubu, that we should support the growth and sustenance of the private sector. It’s also one of our five-point agenda.
“In fact, what we are doing here today satisfies two of our five-point agenda, which is one, support for our local entrepreneurs within our sector. The second is human capital development. Those are two very key objectives we have in our five-point agenda in the aviation sector.
“And so what we have today here is actually a revolution, I must say. Why is this a revolution? It’s actually the first in Africa. what he’s doing combines two, in fact, three of, you know, the critical sectors in the aviation ecosystem”, he said.
Keyamo further stated that, “Boeing has a study on African aviation. And African aviation is the fastest-growing sector. It’s going to be the fastest-growing sector amongst all sectors in Africa in the next few years.
“We are expected to grow so fast within the next few years that Africa will be used looking for professionals, looking for pilots, looking for aeronautical engineers, air traffic controllers. So, we need to begin to look ahead.
“We need to be ahead of these dynamics that’s coming, this growth that is coming to Africa. And this could not have come at a better time. Welcome to the sector. Welcome to the ecosystem. And we hope to work with you together”.
Similarly, Vice Chancellor of IBUAM, Prof. Paul Jemitola informed that the university was a revolution designed to shape the future of aviation and leadership in Africa.
“The International Civil Aviation Organisation projects that over 65,000 new African aviation professionals will be needed by the year 2040. Accordingly, our university is a critical institution designed to fill this gap right here on African soil.
“Our vision, inspired by the grit and innovation of our founder, Engineer Isaac Balami, is to combine global standards with local equities. The Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management intends to redefine what it means to be a graduate.
“Regardless of your chosen discipline, from aerospace engineering to aviation management or computer engineering, every student will have the opportunity to master piloting and leadership alongside their primary course of study.
“When you graduate from our university, you will earn your degree, but you will also walk away with a private pilot’s licence and even options for a commercial licensure. You will also walk away with an international aircraft maintenance certification aligned with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency Standards”, he said.
The Vice Chancellor also disclosed that students would be able to log over 1,000 hours on live aircraft and trained with advanced digital simulation technologies from industry leaders such as Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce.
He concluded by saying, “the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management is where pilots will graduate as entrepreneurs, engineers will graduate as innovators, and managers will graduate as visionaries. Our admission process is officially open to students across the nation, Africa, and the world. If you dream of flying, fixing, managing, or leading, this is the wrong way”.
On his part, founder of IBUAM, Engr. Isaac Balami explained that the vision of the school was to produce professionals to meet the aviation sector’s demand in record time.
“…So what took us 20 years to learn in the industry, we are giving it to our children in four to five years. That is the goal right there. And with the support of the NCAA, I believe some of you can do that.
“We want to assure the President and the Federal Executive Council that we will do our best to make Nigeria and Africa proud with this assignment given to us. IBUAM is a response to the skills gap.
“We’ve heard the VC say over 65,000 engineers, pilots and managers will be required in the next 10 to 12 years in Africa alone. Aviation College Zaria is doing very well. We have AFIT is doing very, very well, but they are even producing less than 500 top aviators currently. So there is a huge gap.
“Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco cannot even meet 20% of the demand and as the Giant of Africa, with the support of our visionary leader, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, I believe we can actually do it”, he said.
