By Felix Khanoba
Baze University, Abuja, has taken a major step towards establishing a full-fledged aviation training institution with the acquisition of two brand-new Diamond KMO 40 single-engine aircraft from Austria.
The aircraft, which arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:20 p.m. local time, are expected to support practical flight training and complement the university’s academic programmes in aviation and aerospace engineering.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in the institution’s ambition to develop aviation professionals and expand the scope of specialised aviation education in Nigeria.
Speaking during the reception of the aircraft, the Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, described the development as an important achievement for both the institution and the country’s aviation education sector.
He said the aircraft would provide opportunities for training a new generation of Nigerian aviation professionals, noting that the initiative reflected the university’s commitment to national development through quality education.
“It is a great honour for our dear country, Nigeria, today, not just for our institution. We are being honoured by the arrival of our brand-new KMO 40 aircraft for the purpose of training aviation enthusiasts, our children and the next generation of aviation experts in Nigeria,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He described Baze Aviation as an ambitious initiative aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s international standing and taking advantage of its strategic geographical position through aviation development.
According to him, construction of the aviation school’s infrastructure, which commenced earlier in the year, has reached about 50 per cent completion despite delays occasioned by the rainy season.
“We began modestly, but construction is ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From January to date, we are about 50 per cent through establishing the infrastructure for Baze Aviation School,” he said.
The Chancellor disclosed that the university was constructing an aerodrome in the Federal Capital Territory, measuring 1,800 metres in length and 30 metres in width, with an additional 50 metres of shoulder.
He described the proposed facility as an important infrastructure investment, adding that Abuja, as Nigeria’s capital, stood to benefit from having another aerodrome.
Baba-Ahmed further revealed that the university planned to train at least 600 aviation professionals, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
He said the training would cover different areas of the aviation industry, including piloting, air traffic control, aircraft rescue and firefighting.
The programmes are expected to complement the university’s existing academic offerings in aeronautical engineering and aviation management.
He also acknowledged the contributions of relevant regulatory and government institutions, particularly the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), towards the realisation of the project.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, described the aircraft acquisition as a historic development that would distinguish Baze University within Nigeria’s and Africa’s higher education landscape.
Adeniyi said the institution was positioning itself as the first privately owned university in Africa to establish an aviation school with its own aircraft.
He noted that although the University of South Africa, a public institution, already operated an aviation training school, Baze University’s initiative represented a significant development in private-sector investment in aviation education.
The Vice-Chancellor praised the Chancellor for his commitment to expanding the frontiers of higher education through investments in specialised training infrastructure.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Baze Aviation School Project, retired Air Vice-Marshal Aliyu Bello, described the arrival of the aircraft as a major step towards strengthening aviation education and addressing the manpower needs of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Bello explained that the project was initiated by the Chancellor about four to five years ago as part of a vision to establish an institution that would combine classroom instruction with practical flight training.
He disclosed that the university had acquired approximately 92 hectares of land at Gwari, on the outskirts of Abuja, for the development of the aviation facility.
According to him, the two newly acquired KMO 40 single-engine aircraft have recorded only about 40 to 50 flying hours, making them suitable for the institution’s initial pilot-training programme.
However, he noted that additional facilities, including a twin-engine aircraft and a flight simulator, would be required to support advanced training, instrument ratings and multi-engine operations.
Bello expressed optimism that further investments would be made to provide the equipment and infrastructure required to deliver comprehensive aviation training.
He also disclosed that the university had obtained NUC approval to offer two aviation-related academic programmes: Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Management.
The retired Air Vice-Marshal explained that the institution’s approach would go beyond conventional classroom-based teaching by integrating theoretical instruction with practical flying experience.
He said the arrival of the aircraft was also intended to demonstrate the university’s preparedness to move the project towards operational take-off and the eventual admission of students for flight training.
Bello commended the Chancellor for prioritising investment in aviation education, noting that the initiative would help develop the skilled manpower required to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry.
