By Felix Khanoba
Isaac Balami, prominent aviator and former president of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, has announced bold plans to make Nigeria a center for aircraft manufacturing through the newly established Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management.
The groundbreaking institution was among 11 universities granted licenses on Wednesday, a development Balami described as pivotal in reviving the country’s fading aviation legacy.
Speaking to journalists at the licensing ceremony in Abuja, Balami expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving the university’s establishment.
“In the days of Nigerian Airways, we were the first African airline to land in America with crew. Today, that legacy is lost. This university is our way of restoring it,” he said.
Balami explained that beyond awarding degrees, the university aims to train globally competitive aeronautical professionals.
He revealed that graduates will receive dual certifications—one from Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC) and another from leading international aircraft manufacturers including Boeing, Airbus, Gulfstream, and Embraer.
“Our students won’t just learn theory—they’ll clock 7,000 to 10,000 hours on live aircraft in our Lagos-based hangar, and graduate with both European and Nigerian civil aviation licenses,” Balami said.
“By the grace of God, Nigeria will soon witness its first indigenously built aircraft, constructed by our youth,” he added.
According to Balami, the university’s leadership includes a Cranfield-trained aerospace design professor and a retired Air Vice Marshal serving as acting vice chancellor, underscoring its foundation of expertise.
“We’ve already assembled aircraft, built drones, and conducted C-checks and D-checks. We’re not starting, we’re scaling,” he emphasized.
Addressing concerns about the growing number of private universities, Balami argued that more institutions are needed to meet rising demand.
“Six million Nigerians sit for WAEC and NECO yearly, but only about 400,000 gain university admission. We clearly need more institutions to meet demand,” he said, citing India as a model for expanding educational access.
He stressed that the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management represents more than an academic endeavor—it signals a national revival.
“We’re not waiting for the future. We’re building it now,” Balami declared.
