Cynthia Ezegwu
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has expressed concern over the growing shortage of qualified professionals in Nigeria’s aviation industry, which has forced the government to recall and retain retired personnel to fill critical gaps.
Keyamo disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the official unveiling of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), the first private university of aeronautics in Nigeria, licensed earlier this year by the Federal Government.
The minister described the establishment of the institution as timely, noting that it aligns with the federal government’s drive to build local capacity and technical expertise in the aviation sector.
“African aviation is the fastest-growing sector, and in the next few years, it will outpace other industries. We are expected to experience rapid growth, which will increase demand for professionals—pilots, aeronautical engineers, and air traffic controllers. This university could not have come at a better time,” Keyamo said.
He highlighted that Nigeria’s aviation industry is already grappling with a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly air traffic controllers, adding that training institutions like the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, are struggling to meet demand.
“We are short-staffed in several key areas. To cope, we have recalled retirees and extended their tenures. We expect this new university to focus on producing the professionals the sector urgently needs,” the minister added.
The university’s founder, Isaac Balami, an aviation entrepreneur and former President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, said the institution was conceived to address the growing demand for aviation professionals in Africa.
“We are compressing what took us 20 years to learn in the industry into a four- to five-year training process for our students,” Balami explained. “Our curriculum includes advanced digital simulation that prepares graduates to work with global manufacturers.”
The Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Paul Jemitola, said the university’s programmes are designed to produce a new generation of aviation and management experts equipped with both technical and leadership skills.
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“Every student will graduate with a degree and also earn a private pilot’s licence and international aircraft maintenance certification, in line with standards set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency,” he said.
According to Jemitola, IBUAM will play a vital role in strengthening Nigeria’s aviation education framework and developing the technical workforce required for Africa’s expanding air transport industry.
Licensed by the Federal Government on April 30, 2025, the university received approval from President Bola Tinubu during a Federal Executive Council meeting held on March 3, 2025, after a four-year application process.
Balami said his long-term vision is for the university to contribute to the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry — including the eventual production of locally built aircraft.