Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Management, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has expressed concern over the country’s worsening shortage of qualified aviation professionals, warning that the gap has forced the government to recall retired personnel to fill critical positions.
Keyamo disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during the official unveiling of the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM) — Nigeria’s first private aeronautics university — recently licensed by the Federal Government.
He described the creation of the institution as “timely and strategic”, saying it aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to developing home-grown capacity and technical expertise within the aviation sector.
“We are short-staffed in certain areas in aviation, and even Zaria (the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology) is struggling in those areas,” Keyamo said. “We are short-staffed in terms of air traffic controllers and other skilled professionals who are very difficult to produce.
“We have had to recall retirees and extend their tenure to meet the need. So, we expect that you concentrate on those areas where we are short-staffed.”
The minister’s remarks highlight growing concerns over the sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation workforce as demand for air services expands across Africa.
A New Hub for Aviation Education
The founder of the university, Isaac Balami, a former aircraft engineer and aviation entrepreneur, said the institution was conceived to bridge the manpower gap and prepare the next generation of African aviation professionals.
“We are preparing what took us 20 years to learn in the industry and giving it to our children in four to five years,” Balami explained. “Number 14 of our schedule of tuition talks about giving students competency in digital simulation that qualifies them to work with global manufacturers.”
The university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Paul Jemitola, said IBUAM’s curriculum blends technical expertise with leadership and management training.
“Every student will have the opportunity to master piloting and leadership alongside their primary course of study,” he said. “When you graduate, you will earn your degree as well as a private pilot’s licence and international aircraft maintenance certification, aligned with NCAA and EASA standards.”
Jemitola noted that the institution aims to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation education framework and supply the technical workforce needed to sustain Africa’s fast-growing air transport sector.
Institutional Milestone
IBUAM was officially licensed on April 30, 2025, following approval by President Bola Tinubu during a Federal Executive Council meeting on March 3, 2025. Its establishment marks the culmination of a four-year process by the promoters to secure regulatory clearance.
With its launch, industry observers say the university could become a vital pipeline for producing skilled aviation experts — from air traffic controllers to maintenance engineers — helping Nigeria reduce dependence on foreign training institutions and address a looming talent crisis in the sector.