Cynthia Ezegwu
Stakeholders in the aviation sector have expressed strong support for the formal establishment of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, during a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Technology.
The hearing, held at Conference Room 231 of the National Assembly complex, was part of ongoing legislative efforts to pass the bill establishing the university into law. When fully operational, the institution is expected to be the first of its kind in the region, offering specialized training and research in aviation and aerospace technologies.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the committee said the public hearing drew participation from a wide range of stakeholders across the aviation and aerospace industries, who made presentations aimed at enriching and supporting the bill.
Representing the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the project, describing legislative backing as essential for the university’s long-term success.
The Pro-Chancellor of AAAU and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Goni Aji, lauded the event as “a major step in institutionalizing the university through legislative means,” noting its potential to position Nigeria as a hub for aviation and aerospace education in Africa.
Notable participants at the hearing included representatives from the Office of the Chief of Air Staff, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), among others.
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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, reaffirmed the commitment of the House to ensuring the bill’s smooth passage, describing it as “a forward-looking step for national development.”
In his closing remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation Technology, Tajudeen Abiodun, thanked participants for their contributions and assured that the committee would give the bill “expedited attention to ensure its timely passage.”
Similarly, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, representing the Senate Committee on Aviation Technology, pledged the Senate’s concurrence once the bill reaches the upper chamber, signaling broad legislative support for the initiative.