A bill seeking to establish the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU), Abuja, has progressed at the house of representatives.
On Wednesday, the house committee on aviation technology held a public hearing on the bill, with stakeholders from across the aviation sector in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, represented by Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader, said the proposed university aims to address the “pressing need” for specialised skills and research in aviation and aerospace, critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and development
He said by establishing the institution, the government will not only provide world-class education and training but also foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
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“The national assembly make bold to state that the major benefit of the proposed bill will be the development of a skilled workforce that can contribute to Nigeria’s economic development and growth, enhance our aviation infrastructure and services, making Nigeria a hub for aviation and aerospace in Africa,” Abbas said.
Tajudeen Abisodun, the committee chairman, said the citadel, when fully operational, will position Nigeria as a continental leader in aviation technology, aerospace innovation, and human capital development.
“Let us be clear: this university is not just for Nigeria. It is for Africa. It is a bold declaration that we are ready to lead, innovate, and educate at the highest levels. With Abuja as its home, the university will serve as a beacon of progress for the continent,” he said.
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Ibrahim Kana, permanent secretary of the ministry of aviation, said the idea of the university was conceived in 2016, following assessments of manpower gaps and capacity needs in Nigeria’s aviation sector and across the African continent.
He said the manpower audit conducted by the ministry at that time revealed, among other things, that the total annual expenditure on foreign aviation training exceeded N8 billion, and less than 15 per cent of professionals under 40 years possessed postgraduate qualifications in aviation management, safety, or aerospace disciplines.
The permanent secretary said it became clear that Africa must develop its high-level aviation and aerospace capacity to drive safety, innovation and competitiveness in the global industry.
“Nigerian government took the decisive position to take the centre stage to pioneer this initiative for Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” he said.
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In their submission, the institution’s management, staff, and students expressed appreciation to the parliament for considering the bill to formally establish the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the university community, Mustapha Abdullahi, the institution’s pioneer registrar, outlined its progress since inception, including successfully running over seven accredited undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with new courses in law and engineering underway.
He urged the national assembly to pass the bill, stressing that legislative backing will empower AAAU to fully realise its mission of advancing technological development and human capital capacity for Nigeria and Africa.
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