The newly licensed Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM) has announced ambitious plans for its students to construct Nigeria’s first domestically-built aircraft. This announcement comes as the total number of universities in Nigeria reaches 295, following the licensing of 11 new institutions.
Speaking after receiving the university’s operational license, founder Isaac Balami expressed confidence that IBUAM students will soon achieve this milestone. The university, located in Lagos State, is the first of its kind in Nigeria, specializing in aeronautics.
Balami, a former President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, noted his two decades of experience in the aviation sector motivated him to establish the university. His goal is to revitalize Nigeria’s aviation sector to its former glory, reminiscent of the Nigerian Airways era.
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Balami emphasized the university’s focus on producing graduates with certifications from major aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, alongside practical experience. Students will have access to a live aircraft hangar in Lagos, accumulating thousands of hours of hands-on experience and obtaining European and Nigerian civil aviation licenses. He envisions young Nigerians, as young as 16, graduating with both a university degree and valuable industry certifications.
Balami credited President Bola Tinubu for approving the university’s license after a four-year delay, highlighting the President’s commitment to the growth of education in Nigeria. He praised President Tinubu’s administration for its unprecedented support for education, making this achievement possible in just two years.
