AFRICA’S FIRST PRIVATE AERONAUTICS UNIVERSITY UNVEILED IN ABUJA

In a landmark event for Nigeria and the African continent, the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM) was officially inaugurated on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Plateau Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Hailed as Africa’s first privately owned university dedicated to aeronautics and management, the grand unveiling doubled as a world press conference, attracting a distinguished gathering of leaders from aviation, education, defence, diplomatic, and legislative sectors.

Notable attendees included Hon. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Amb. Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Senator Abubakar Mahadi; Capt. Chris Najomo, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority; Air Vice Marshal (Prof.) Paul Jemitola (Rtd), Vice Chancellor of IBUAM; and Comrade Isaac Balami, Founder and Chancellor. Also present were representatives of the Minister of Women Affairs, members of the National Assembly, senior government officials, industry experts, and journalists from across the country.

In his keynote address, Air Vice Marshal (Prof.) Paul Jemitola described the institution as a revolutionary force set to transform aviation education and leadership in Africa. “Today, we unveil not just a university, but a revolution designed to shape the future of aviation and leadership across Africa,” he said. “The International Civil Aviation Organisation projects that over 65,000 new African aviation professionals will be needed by 2040. Our university is a timely response to that call.” Jemitola outlined IBUAM’s unique model, which combines academic learning with hands-on professional training. “Every graduate of this university will not only earn a degree but also acquire a Private Pilot Licence and Aircraft Maintenance Certification in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards,” he noted. He emphasized that students would log over 1,000 flight and simulation hours with industry partners like Boeing, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce, making them “global professionals with African roots.” Jemitola concluded with an invitation to aspiring students: “If you dream of flying, fixing, managing, or leading, this is the runway to your future.”

Comrade Isaac Balami, the founder and chancellor, delivered an emotional testimony, recounting his humble beginnings in Maiduguri, Borno State. “I came from a background where I was a suck-away evacuator, a bus conductor, and a farm labourer,” he shared. “During school holidays, when others played football, I was in the bush working to support my family. Today, by God’s grace, we are unveiling Africa’s first private aeronautics and management university.” Balami expressed gratitude to supporters, including Minister Festus Keyamo, Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Minister of Education, for approving the university’s licence after a rigorous process. He detailed the practical training approach, revealing that IBUAM is linked to an aircraft maintenance facility in Lagos. “Our students will not just study theory; they will spend their weekends and holidays in the hangar — repairing engines, testing avionics, and learning real-life operations. By graduation, they will be employable anywhere in the world without supervision,” he said. Balami assured that IBUAM would uphold excellence and accountability, calling it a “patriotic response to Africa’s aviation manpower deficit.”

A major announcement came with the revelation that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs would sponsor 100 female students annually from across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to study at IBUAM. “This partnership will help break barriers and open the skies to women,” Balami declared, eliciting applause from the audience. Mrs. Jimmy Okoye, representing the Minister of Women Affairs, praised the initiative as “a landmark for gender inclusion in aviation,” adding, “We are proud to support a university that is not only training pilots and engineers but also building leaders — both male and female — who will shape Africa’s future.”

National leaders lauded IBUAM’s vision in their goodwill messages. Amb. Gabriel Aduda described the university as “a national pride and a beacon for Africa’s next generation of innovators.” Senator Abubakar Mahadi commended the project for “turning dreams into institutional realities,” while Capt. Chris Najomo pledged continued regulatory support to ensure global compliance and operational excellence.

The ceremony concluded with guests hailing IBUAM as a symbol of hope and progress, embodying its motto, “Excellence in the Skies, Leadership on the Ground.” In his closing remarks, Balami underscored the university’s role in Africa’s development: “Nobody will come to fix Nigeria for us. It is our duty to build it ourselves. IBUAM is our contribution — our runway to a brighter, stronger Africa.”