The Federal Government has ruled out plans to transform the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, into a conventional university.
Instead, the government said the institution will remain a specialised university dedicated to aviation and aerospace education to address the growing demand for skilled professionals in the sector.
The position was made known on Thursday during the university’s matriculation ceremony in Abuja. Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Kambari, represented the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
FG Says AAAU Must Remain Specialised
Kambari described the university as a strategic investment designed to close the manpower gap in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He said the institution would continue to train professionals capable of competing in the global aviation and aerospace sectors.
“AAAU is a strategic national investment designed to bridge the manpower gap within one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.”
He added that the government’s human capital development agenda aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
No Plans to Turn AAAU Into a Conventional University
Kambari acknowledged the need for the university to introduce more academic programmes.
However, he stressed that every new course must remain relevant to aviation and aerospace.
“The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development will not support any attempt for AAAU to gradually drift into becoming a conventional university.”
He warned that some specialised universities had abandoned their original mandates by introducing unrelated programmes.
According to him, the current administration will not allow the same to happen at AAAU.
“We must resist the temptation of becoming everything to everyone. Rather, we must strive to become the very best in what we were created to do.”
Government Highlights Global Aviation Opportunities
Kambari said the global aviation industry will require hundreds of thousands of skilled workers over the next decade.
He noted that the demand includes commercial pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, airport managers, aviation lawyers, aerospace engineers, cyber security specialists and aviation business managers.
He said Nigeria has an opportunity to position its workforce to benefit from the growing industry.
University Records Growth Since 2023
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Mustapha Abdullah, said AAAU has recorded steady growth since admitting its first undergraduate students in 2023.
According to him, the institution started with just 29 undergraduate students but now has 311 students.
He also disclosed that the university has trained more than 500 aviation professionals, while over 50 postgraduate students have successfully defended their master’s degrees.
“Our academic growth has been impressive and deliberate.”
Abdullah added that the university expects to hold its maiden convocation within the next year as its pioneer undergraduate students prepare to graduate.
Scholarship Programme Expanded
Chairman of the Governing Council, Bukar Goni, said the university has expanded its scholarship scheme for indigent students.
He revealed that the institution initially sponsored six students, including four from host communities.
Following the success of the programme, the Governing Council approved sponsorship for four additional students.
Goni encouraged students to take advantage of the expanding opportunities in Nigeria’s aviation industry, describing the sector as one with enormous career prospects.
