By Gabriel Agbeja

Baze University, Abuja, has acquired two training aircraft from Austria for its aviation school located in Bwari with the motto, “Begin from the Sky”.

The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed, disclosed this on Friday, after a traditional water cannon salute for the aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

Baba-Ahmed said the milestone would significantly advance national development and boost capacity in the aviation sector.

According to him, the institution aims to train at least 600 professionals in air traffic control, air rescue, and fire-fighting, subject to the approval of relevant regulatory bodies, in addition to its approved degree programmes.

He noted that the quality of graduates from Baze University was already being recognised in the country, across Europe, the United States and selected African countries.

“Baze Aviation School is going to uplift the integrity of Nigeria across the world. The institution will enable us to command and control geography in Nigeria.

“It is a blessed institution to consider our aviation alongside our agricultural potential, solid minerals, and oil and gas.

“We intend to deliver an aerodrome hub measuring 1,800 metres by 30 metres, plus an additional 15 metres, at the heart of Abuja,” he said.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Aviation School, retired Air Vice Marshal Aliyu Bello, stated that the acquired aircraft would be used for practical flight training and expanding aviation operations.

Bello said the university was commencing flight training to provide students with hands-on experience alongside ground-school instruction.

“The institution is developing a dedicated aviation facility on a large site in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, featuring a dedicated runway, a hangar, a terminal building, laboratories, and simulation centres,” he said.

He said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved two new full-time undergraduate programmes, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.

He identified the programmes as Aviation Management in the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences and Aerospace Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, said that Baze University would become the first private university in Africa to operate its own aviation school. (NAN)

Edited by Philip Yatai