Baze University, Abuja, has acquired two brand-new Diamond KMO 40 single-engine training aircrafts from Austria as part of efforts to establish a full-fledged aviation school and strengthen practical aviation training in Nigeria.
The aircrafts, which arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 4:20 p.m, local time, represent a major milestone in the university’s plan to integrate practical flight training with academic programmes in aviation and aerospace engineering.
Speaking at the reception of the aircraft, the Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, described the acquisition as a significant achievement not only for the institution but also for Nigeria’s aviation education sector.
He said the aircraft would provide opportunities for training a new generation of Nigerian aviation professionals, adding that the initiative was part of the university’s broader commitment to national development through quality education.
“It is a great honour for our dear country, Nigeria, today, not just for our institution. We are being honoured by the arrival of our brand-new KMO 40 aircraft for the purpose of training aviation enthusiasts, our children and the next generation of aviation experts in Nigeria,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He described Baze Aviation as an ambitious project designed to enhance Nigeria’s global profile and harness the country’s strategic geographical location through aviation development.
According to him, construction work on the aviation school’s infrastructure has reached approximately 50 per cent completion since the beginning of the year, despite disruptions caused by the rainy season.
“We began modestly, but construction is ongoing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From January to date, we are about 50 per cent through establishing the infrastructure for Baze Aviation School,” he said.
The Chancellor disclosed that the university was developing an aerodrome measuring 1,800 metres in length and 30 metres in width, with an additional 50 metres of shoulder, in the Federal Capital Territory.
He described the proposed facility as a major national infrastructure project, noting that Abuja’s development as a federal capital city would benefit from having an additional aerodrome.
Baba-Ahmed said the university intended to train at least 600 aviation professionals, subject to regulatory approvals, across various specialisations, including pilot training, air traffic control, aircraft rescue and firefighting.
The programmes would complement the institution’s academic offerings in aeronautical engineering and aviation management.
He acknowledged the support of regulatory and government agencies, particularly the National Universities Commission, NUC, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, in advancing the project.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, described the acquisition as a historic achievement that would distinguish Baze University within Nigeria’s and Africa’s higher education landscape.
Adeniyi said the institution was positioning itself as the first privately owned university in Africa to establish an aviation school equipped with its own aircraft.
He noted that while the University of South Africa, a publicly owned institution, had an aviation training school, Baze University’s initiative represented a significant distinction in private-sector participation in aviation education.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Chancellor for his commitment to expanding the frontiers of higher education through investments in specialised training facilities.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Baze Aviation School Project, retired Air Vice-Marshal Aliyu Bello, described the acquisition as a significant step towards expanding aviation education and developing the manpower required by Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Bello said the project was conceived by the Chancellor about four to five years ago, with the vision of establishing an institution that would combine academic instruction with practical flight training.
He disclosed that the university had secured approximately 92 hectares of land at Gwari, on the outskirts of Abuja, for the development of the aviation facility.
According to him, the two KMO 40 single-engine aircrafts are brand-new, with only about 40 to 50 flying hours, making them suitable for the university’s initial pilot-training programme.
He explained, however, that additional equipment, including a twin-engine aircraft and a flight simulator, would be required to support advanced training, instrument ratings and multi-engine operations.
Bello expressed confidence that further investments would be made to equip the school with the facilities needed to deliver comprehensive aviation training.
He also confirmed that the university had secured approval from the NUC to run two aviation-related academic programmes: Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Management.
The retired Air Vice-Marshal said the institution’s model would distinguish it from conventional classroom-based aviation education by combining theoretical knowledge with practical flight experience.
He added that the arrival of the aircraft was intended to demonstrate the university’s readiness to advance the project towards commencement of operations and enrolment of students for flight training.
Bello commended the Chancellor for prioritising investment in aviation education, saying the initiative would contribute to developing the skilled human resources needed to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry.
