The federal government, Friday, unveiled the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), the first of its kind in Africa.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony Friday in Abuja, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said one of the visions of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is to support the growth and sustenance of the private sector.

He said the university will be a competitor and a partner to the federal government as the government has a flying school in Zaria, advising the founder to look into areas where the government is lacking, especially air controllers.

He said the federal government will review its fees at the flying school in Zaria in order not to run out of business, saying IBUAM came well prepared and has everything in place for a smooth take off.

He said: “Isaac’s energy has brought him to where he is today and for me, I have to be here today because the moment I was sworn into office as Minister of Aviation, he was one of the first people that came to my office and told me about all these plans in the aviation sector. From the MRO, then he was just 39. I think he was doing his 39th birthday on that day. Then he said he had just established an MRO in Lagos, I should come and see it, that the Isaac Balami University is coming on track and everything.

“From then on, I made it a point to stand by him in all that he was doing and here we are today. This is one of the visions of this government, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we should support the growth and sustenance of the private sector, especially in all our different sectors. It’s also one of our five-point agenda. In fact, what we are doing here today satisfies two of our five-point agenda, which is one, support for our local entrepreneurs within our sector.

“The second is human capital development. Those are two very key objectives we have in our five-point agenda in the aviation sector. So what we have today here is actually a revolution, I must say. Why is this a revolution? It’s actually the first in Africa. It’s not only with the public and private sector, because what it is doing combines two, in fact, three of the critical sectors in the aviation ecosystem.

“The future of flights in Africa will indeed be very great here. We want to say that we are short-staffed in certain parts, in certain areas in aviation. Even Zaria was struggling in those particular areas. One is air traffic controllers. I just want to make it public. We are short-staffed in terms of air traffic controllers. They are so much, they are trained as skilled professionals that it is very difficult to produce them.

“So we have the option now of even retaining those who have retired, extending their tenure, bringing them back on contract, on contract terms for them to serve us. So we expect that you concentrate in those areas where we are short-staffed. Like I said, air traffic controllers, there is a dearth of air traffic controllers in our sector.

“African aviation is the fastest growing sector. It is going to be the fastest growing sector amongst all sectors in Africa in the next few years. I don’t have the figures with me here, but we are expected to grow so fast within the next few years that Africa will be looking for professionals, looking for pilots, looking for aeronautical engineers, air traffic controllers.

“So we need to begin to look ahead. We need to be ahead of these dynamics that is coming, this growth that is coming to Africa. And this could not have come at a better time. Welcome to the sector. Welcome to the ecosystem and we hope to work with you together.”

Speaking earlier, the founder of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Isaac Balami, said the university will produce young boys and girls who can work unsupervised anywhere in the world.

He said the management will partner with state governments and wealthy individuals to sponsor intelligent students from humble backgrounds, saying the tuition fees may be too high for many families to afford without sponsorship.

He said: “Like the VC did say, you will not just go and just get theory after five years and graduate, but you will, at the end of the day, get every year, every weekend, every public holiday, aside the idea of going for Ramadan fast holiday and Christmas, every other holiday will be spent in the hangar, flying, aircraft engine shop, landing gear shop, structural repair, sheet metal work, avionics, wheels and brake, and so on and so forth.

“So at the end of the day, you are producing a 20, 21 years old boy or girl that can work unsupervised anywhere in the world. Number 14 of our schedule of tuition has to talk about giving those children competency in digital simulation that qualifies you to actually have the capability to walk from Lagos campus straight into Boeing, Mercedes, Range Rover, Airbus, and you can be useful. So we are preparing.

“So what took us 20 years to learn in the industry, we are giving it to our children in four to five years. And with the support of the NCA, I believe we can do that. And this is a tall dream that I must give credit to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The reason is because it is difficult to see a young person like me and trust us with such a responsibility. We want to assure the President and the Federal Executive Council that we will do our best to make Nigeria and Africa proud with this assignment given to us. I promise a response to the skills gap.
You’ve heard the VC say over 65,000 engineers, pilots, and managers will be required in the next 10 to 12 years in Africa alone.

“I’ve met the Minister of Women Affairs this year. She will say a word later. She called and told me that 100 ladies across the six zones will be trained in this university every year. I’m very happy to hear that. You know, the cost of aircraft, aviation fuel, digital simulations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and accommodation is not cheap, but you must be qualified. So, Nigerians should go out there. The form is now open. You need to subscribe.

“Then, if you subscribe and you make it, then we can now make a case for you by speaking to our leaders across the country to actually help. When I went to the Aviation College Zaria, my parents sold two of their properties, one in Maiduguri, one in Shafa, in my village in Borno South. They couldn’t pay half of the tuition.

“At the end of the day, Senator Ali Modu Sherif, the former governor of Borno State, helped me and I was sponsored in Aviation College Zaria. So, it’s not cheap, but you must be qualified. We have just a few weeks for you to go online and get registered. And if your parents can pay, fine. If your parents cannot pay and you are qualified, we have leaders here that will actually speak on your behalf. “

Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of IBUAM, Air Vice Marshal Professor Paul Jemitola (Rtd), said the university is Africa’s first privately owned university dedicated to aeronautics and management, saying every student will have the opportunity to master piloting and leadership alongside their primary course of study in the university.

He said: “Beyond the academics, we foster leadership through balance. Our campus offers a complete lifestyle experience, from defined for extensive sports facilities, gaming facilities and thereby cultivating men and women who are prepared to lead in the future. The Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management is where pilots will graduate as entrepreneurs, engineers will graduate as innovators and managers will graduate as visionaries.

“Our admission process is officially open to students across the nation, Africa and the world. If you dream of flying, fixing, managing or leading, this is the runway. I invite you to visit our website at www.ibuam.edu.ng and apply for the great journey ahead of you.”