BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has thrown his weight behind Baze University’s plan to establish a School of Aviation in Abuja, pledging full institutional support and swift regulatory clearances for the project, including a dedicated training runway.
Keyamo gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he received the Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Yussuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who led a high-powered delegation of the institution’s management on a courtesy and project-advocacy visit to the Ministry.
The delegation included the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jamila Shu’ara, and the Registrar, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, alongside other senior officials.
The proposed School of Aviation, to be located in Bwari, Abuja, is designed to offer pilot training and a range of aviation-related professional programmes aimed at addressing Nigeria’s growing skills gap in the sector.
Speaking at the meeting, Baba-Ahmed thanked the Minister for what he described as his “magnanimity and patriotism” in prioritising national interest in his support for the project.
He traced the evolution of Baze University from its modest beginnings in 2011 to its current status as a major private institution.
“We started with just 17 students, 60 staff and about 3,000 square metres of academic space. Today, we have over 5,000 graduates, more than 75,000 square metres of academic facilities, and Nigeria’s largest private hospital in Africa,” he said.
Noting that the hospital was commissioned during the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Baba-Ahmed said Baze University graduates were already making their mark across public service, family-owned enterprises and global institutions, adding that the university’s postgraduate students have recorded exceptional performance abroad.
“Many of our students who studied for their Master’s degrees overseas returned with distinctions — 30 out of 31 in one cohort.
We are launching another legacy,” he said.
Highlighting the strategic importance of aviation, the Chancellor described the sector as one of the fastest-growing globally and warned that Africa risks falling further behind if it fails to invest aggressively in human capital.
“The world will need about 780,000 maintenance engineers in the next 20 years. Are we going to remain consumers of expertise?” he asked. “Education, healthcare, tourism and now aviation are the strategic paths to blocking Nigeria’s economic leakages. We want to start producing expertise in pilot training, aeronautical engineering, air traffic control, meteorology and other critical aviation disciplines.”
He expressed confidence that progress on the project would be swift, saying, “I am confident that within a year, the Honourable Minister will be invited for a working visit to flag off the Baze University School of Aviation.”
In his response, Keyamo warmly welcomed the delegation and commended the university’s vision, describing the proposal as timely and aligned with national priorities.
“We have been in discussions on this for some time, and I am very encouraged by your passion and your vision,” the Minister said. “As you rightly said, I put national interest first because I have taken an oath to be fair to everyone.”
He said the proposed aviation school was a natural extension of Baze University’s proven capacity and track record.
“Looking at what you have already achieved, no one can doubt your capability,” he noted. “Your vision for a School of Aviation addresses two major issues in our sector — the skills gap and connectivity challenges, especially in West Africa.”
Keyamo pointed to persistent shortages of aviation professionals, including air traffic controllers, and weak regional connectivity as critical challenges the project could help address.
While acknowledging existing institutions such as the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), he said the entry of more credible players into the space should be welcomed.
“I am in a position where I must embrace competition, but this is healthy competition that strengthens our aviation ecosystem,” he said. “Initiatives like this add value not just to aviation, but to Nigeria as a whole.”
In a strong signal of government backing, the Minister assured the delegation that regulatory bottlenecks would not stand in the way of the project.
He said all relevant agencies had been placed on notice to support the initiative.
“All the regulatory bodies are on red alert to give you the necessary approvals,” Keyamo said. “I will direct the Permanent Secretary to begin procedures immediately. You will not be arm-stronged by bureaucracy. No one should ask you for one kobo. If anyone does, talk to me directly.”
The proposed Baze University School of Aviation is expected to play a key role in building Nigeria’s aviation human capital, reducing reliance on costly foreign training, and strengthening the country’s competitiveness within the global aviation ecosystem.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.