One of Nigeria’s newly established universities, Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, has announced plans to transform Nigeria into an aircraft manufacturing hub.
The founder of the university and renowned aviator, Isaac Balami, disclosed this when he received the institution’s provisional licence along with ten other universities late Wednesday.
The former National President of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, who spoke to newsmen on the sidelines of the official licensing ceremony in Abuja, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for approving the university’s license, adding that it was a critical step in reviving the nation’s once-thriving aviation legacy.
“In the days of Nigerian Airways, we were the first African airline to land in America with a crew. Today, that legacy is lost. This university is our way of restoring it,” Balami said.
He noted that more than just a degree-granting institution, the university is designed to produce world-class aeronautical professionals.
Balami revealed that students will graduate with dual certification, not just from the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) but also from global aircraft manufacturers such as 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 licences.
“By the grace of God, Nigeria will soon witness its first indigenously built aircraft, constructed by our youth,” he said
Balami noted that the institution is backed by a team that includes a Cranfield-trained aerospace design professor and a retired Air Vice Marshal as acting vice chancellor. The institution is built on proven expertise.
“We’ve already assembled aircraft, built drones, and conducted C-checks and D-checks. We’re not starting; we’re scaling,” Balami emphasised.
Responding to concerns about the proliferation of private universities, Balami dismissed the notion that Nigeria has too many.
“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 argued, citing India’s example of opening new universities weekly.
He added that the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management is not just an academic venture; it’s a national renaissance.
“We’re not waiting for the future. We’re building it now,” he said.
