TheCable

The African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) has partnered with Nile University to begin aviation degree programmes.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between both universities in Abuja on Wednesday.

In 2017, the federal government announced that it would establish a university to produce aircraft in the future.

Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, said the university would change the face of civilisation in Nigeria.

“It’s the first of its kind in Africa and by the grace of God, it will be one of the top universities in the world,” Sirika said.

“It’s intended to attend to the demands we have in this sub-region of ours and indeed continentally especially as Africa is looking to unite, integrate and become one entity in all endeavours and we’re taking the first step before anyone else.”

Sirika noted that the academic brief had been developed and that all requirements had been taken, including the employment of staff to ensure a smooth run.

“It will be owned and operated by the private sector through a PPP arrangement but the government needs to ground it fully first to ensure there’s no hitch,” he added.

The minister said the university would be limited to “BSc aviation business and BSc meteorology programmes” before subsequent expansions to other courses and master programmes.

Dilli Dogo, the vice-chancellor of Nile University, said the school was “proud to be associated with this noble objective”.

He said the MoU provided that the first two years of the degree programmes will take place on campus while a part of the third year and all of the fourth year will take place in the School of Aviation, Kaduna.

“We are privileged and pleased to be part of this momentous operation and we look forward to actively participate in the delivery of this brand new university that seeks to impact positively on Nigeria, Nigerians and the African continent. We want to assure that Nile University has all the resources required to support the takeoff,” Dogo added.

African Aviation and Aerospace University’s academic year was billed to begin in September 2022 but was delayed due to some hitches.