Baze University Targets 600 Aviation Professionals, Plans Second Abuja Aerodrome
Baze University, Abuja, has unveiled plans to train at least 600 aviation professionals and establish the Federal Capital Territory’s second aerodrome as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The university’s Chancellor and Founder, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, disclosed this on Friday while receiving two newly acquired Diamond DA40 NG aircraft for the institution’s aviation school.
Baba-Ahmed said the proposed aviation school, situated on a 90-hectare parcel of land in Bwari, would provide specialised training for pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel, aeronautical engineers and other aviation professionals, subject to regulatory approval.
He explained that the initiative was designed to address the shortage of skilled manpower in Nigeria’s aviation sector and position the country as a leading destination for aviation education and training in Africa.
The university founder also disclosed that it was developing an aerodrome measuring 1,800 metres in length and 30 metres in width, with an additional 15-metre shoulder, which would serve as Abuja’s second aerodrome.
According to him, the project received approval from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while acknowledging the contributions of relevant regulatory agencies to its development.
Baba-Ahmed further commended the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approving the establishment of Baze Aviation School, alongside two undergraduate programmes in Aviation Management and Aerospace Engineering.
He described the project as a significant private-sector investment in national aviation infrastructure, noting that the university had recorded approximately 50 per cent progress in the development of the school’s infrastructure between January and November 2026, despite challenges posed by heavy rainfall.
He also appreciated the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and other aviation agencies for their technical support and engagement.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, described the arrival of the aircraft as a historic milestone in the institution’s ambition to expand aviation education in Africa.
Adeniyi said Baze University had become the first privately owned university in Africa to establish an aviation training school with its own aircraft, distinguishing it from the University of South Africa, which he identified as the first publicly owned university on the continent to establish a similar facility.
He attributed the achievement to the vision and determination of the university’s founder, adding that the development would further strengthen the institution’s presence in Nigeria and beyond.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Baze Aviation School Project, Air Vice Marshal Aliyu Bello, said the initiative was conceived about four to five years ago to develop the skilled workforce required to support the growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The two Diamond DA40 NG aircraft arrived at the Hajj Terminal of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 4:50 p.m. on Friday from Austria.
They were received by Baba-Ahmed, Adeniyi and representatives of the NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NAMA, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and other aviation stakeholders.
