The Federal Government has pledged its full institutional backing for the establishment of a pioneering School of Aviation at Baze University, Abuja.
The pledge was made on Thursday by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, during a meeting with the university’s leadership in Abuja.
The Minister gave the assurance while receiving the Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Yussuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who led a delegation including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jamila Shu’ara, and the Registrar, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, on a project-advocacy visit.
The proposed school, to be located in Bwari, Abuja, will feature a dedicated training runway and offer programmes in pilot training, aeronautical engineering, air traffic control, and meteorology.
Senator Baba-Ahmed outlined the project’s strategic importance, stating that aviation is one of the fastest-growing global sectors, with a looming need for hundreds of thousands of professionals.
“Are we going to remain consumers of expertise?” he asked, positioning the school as a critical step towards “blocking Nigeria’s economic leakages” by producing home-grown expertise.
In his response, Minister Keyamo commended the university’s proven track record and the vision behind the project. “Looking at what you have already achieved, no one can doubt your capability. Your vision addresses two major issues in our sector — the skills gap and connectivity challenges,” he stated.
The Minister explicitly directed all aviation regulatory bodies and the Ministry’s management to fast-track the approval processes, offering unprecedented support.
“All the regulatory bodies are on red alert to give you the necessary approvals. You will not be arm-stronged by bureaucracy. No one should ask you for one kobo. If anyone does, talk to me directly,” Keyamo emphasized, promising a frictionless path for the project.
He described the emergence of such private-sector initiatives as “healthy competition” that would strengthen Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem alongside existing institutions like the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
The Baze University School of Aviation is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign training, develop local human capital, and strengthen the country’s position within the global aviation industry. The university’s leadership expressed confidence that the Minister would be invited for a working visit to flag off the project within a year.
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